L  I  B  RA  R.Y 

OF  THE 

U  N  IVERSITY 

Of    ILLINOIS 

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Ox2lcE 


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in  2012  with  funding  from 

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^JcmoriaL 


TWEHTY-FIFTH  ANfilYERSABY 


WESTERN    FEMALE  SEMINARY, 


OXFORD,    OHIO 


1880. 


Published  by  the  Alumna. 


INDIANAPOLIS: 

CARLON  &   HOLLENBECK,  PRINTERS  AND  BINDERS. 

1881. 


TO   OUR    ALMA    MATER; 

TO   OUR    BELOVED   PRINCIPAL    AND   THE   TEACHERS 

WHO   HAVE   WROUGHT   WITH   HER; 

TO   THE   TRUSTEES; 

TO   THESE   WHOSE    UNITED   LABORS,   UNDER 

THE   BLESSING  OF   GOD, 

HAVE   SO   GREATLY   ENRICHED  OUR 

LIVES,   THIS    MEMORIAL    IS   GRATEFULLY 

INSCRIBED 

BY 

The  Alumna. 


xn 


fe 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Dedication , ii. 

Introduction I 

Early   History 3 

The    Holyoke   System 10 

After  Many  Years 12 

Miss  Peabody's  Letters  to  Alumnae  and  Teachers 12 

The  Home  Coming 17 

Reunion  Day — Forenoon  Exercises '. 24 

Poem  of  Welcome  and  the  Response 29 

Seminary  Journal  in  Six  Chapters 47 

Reunion  Day — Afternoon  Exercises 92 

Letters  from  Alumnse  and  Missionaries,   Poems,  Etc 105 

Dr.  Kumler's  Address 123 

J^        Dr.  Nelson's  Letter 128 

n        Recess  Meeting 134 

hi        Anniversary   Day 137 

Graduating  Exercises 139 

^        Annual  Address  by  Rev.  Addison  Ballard,   D.  D  140 

Presentation  of  Diplomas  by  Dr.  Kumler 159 

Class  Poem 162 

Resolutions  of  Alumnae 164 

fclO       Constitution  of  Alumnse  Association 166 

p^        Class    History 169 

^        Catalogue 206 

1^       In  Memoriaro — Phillip  Hinkle 225 

•^       Alumnae  Association... 227 


INTRODUCTION. 


Birthdays^  silver  weddings,  golden  weddings,  cen- 
tennaries — it  is  a  good  thing  to  celebrate  them.  Indi- 
viduals, families,  churches,  nations^  do  well  to  "  call 
to  remembrance  the  former  times,'^  to  "  remember  all 
the  way  the  Lord,  their  God,  hath  led  them,^'  and  to 
make  thankful  acknowledgment  of  his  mercies. 
Those  mercies  are,  indeed,  "new  every  morning  and 
fresh  every  evening."  The  time  in  which  we  experi- 
ence them  has  a  continuous,  ceaseless  flow.  There  i& 
no  pause  of  the  planetary  revolution  w^hile  we  cele- 
brate an  anniversary  day.  Even  while  we  recount  the 
experiences  of  the  year  or  century  closed,  we  are  pass- 
ing on  into  the  year  or  century  succeeding.  Never- 
theless, there  is  a  natural  law  of  numbers^  whereby 
our  minds  can  contemplate  a  numerically  rounded 
period,  not  only  with  pleasure,  but  with  profit.  It  is- 
well  to  put  up  our  history  in  centennial,  semi-centen- 
nial, quarter  century  parcels. 

Nowhere  are  these  historic  days  more  capable  of 
interesting  and  profitable  celebration  than  in  educa- 
tional institutions.  Our  colleges  and  seminaries  have 
their  own  peculiar  life;  yet  a  life  that  knits  itself 
closely  to  the  more  secluded   family  life  at  home  on 


2  INTRODUCTION. 

the  one  hand,  and  to  the  wider  national  life  on  the 
other. 

"Alumni,  Alumnae,  Alma  Mater/'  these  familiar 
terms  symbolize  the  sweet  domesticity  of  school  life. 
All  are  conscious  that  "  Commencement  Day''  has  an 
enrapturing  outlook  upon  "  the  wide,  wide  world." 

A  successful  seminary  for  the  Christian  education 
of  young  women,  in  a  quarter  of  a  century  has  gath- 
ered its  pupils  from  many  hundred  homes,  and  has 
sent  abroad  its  alumnae  to  new  homes,  to  schools,  to 
churches,  to  missionary  stations,  near  and  far.  Its 
history  for  such  a  period  must  be  worth  reciting.  Its 
memories  must  be  worth  recalling.  Precious  to  those 
of  whose  experience  they  are  part,  and  instructive  to 
all  who  may  hear  or  read  them. 

Twenty-five  years  of  the  Western  Female  Seminary, 
1855-1880,  are  briefly  commemorated  in  this  vol- 
ume. It  does  not  attempt  to  be  a  complete  history ; 
it  simply  gathers  up  and  preserves  the  commemorative 
offerings  which  loving  hearts  prepared  and  presented 
on  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary.  Like  the  little  piles 
of  stones  which  reverent,  thankful  men  of  the  old 
Scripture  days  placed  at  the  spots  where  God  had  met 
and  blessed  them,  it  may  serve  to  bear  witness  to  all 
future  comers  of  his  great  goodness  to  the  Western 
in  its  early  years.  To  his  honor  and  praise  we  place 
the  simple  memorial,  thankfully  testifying,  "Hitherto 
hath  the  Lord  helped  us." 

Heney  a.  Nelson. 


SEMINARY  FROM  THE  SOUTHWEST. 


EARLY   HISTORY. 


Incorporated  in  1853,  opened  and  dedicated  in 
1855,  the  Western  Female  Seminary  stands  in  1880  a 
beautiful  monument  of  God's  leading  hand,  his  lov- 
ing, preserving  care  and  his  abiding  presence.  It 
had  its  place,  we  humbly  hope  and  believe,  in  the 
eternal  purposes  of  God,  and  lived  in  embryo  in  the 
noble,  devoted,  prophetic  life  of  Mary  Lyon.  It  first 
suggested  itself  to  the  minds  of  a  few  earnest  Christian 
spirits  living  in  Oxford,  Ohio,  led  by  Rev.  and  Mrs. 
Tenney.  Contemplating  the  life  of  Mary  Lyon,  catch- 
ing the  inspration  of  its  motive  power,  knowing  the 
needs  and  the  aspirations  of  Western  young  women  of 
limited  means  for  higher  mental  culture,  realizing  the 
need  that  this  be  consecrated.  Christian  culture,  the 
conviction  forced  itself  upon  these  men  and  women 
that  Mt.  Holyoke  Seminary,  founded  through  the 
instrumentality  of  Mary  Lyon,  at  South  Hadley, 
Mass.,  should  be  duplicated  in  the  West. 

They  went  forward  carefully   and  prayerfully  and 
God  gradually  opened  the  way.     A  beautiful  site  of 
thirty  acres  (now  increased  to  sixty-five),  adjoining 
the   town   of  Oxford,   was  given  by   James  Fisher. 
Gabriel  Tichenor  and  family  of  Walnut  Hill,  gave 


4  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

the  first  15,000,  followed  by  generous  donations  from 
others  according  to  their  ability. 

Success  thus  assured,  a  board  of  trustees  was  ap- 
pointed in  July,  1853,  and  the  building  begun. 

The  enterprise  was  laid  before  the  principal  and 
teachers  of  Mt.  Holyoke  Seminary.  They  were  asked 
to  foster  this  young  western  daughter,  to  assist  in 
making  her  a  counterpart  of  their  own  institution,  and 
to  select  the  first  corps  of  teachers  from  Holyoke 
ranks. 

Assuring  themselves  that  the  enterprise  was  on  a 
solid  basis,  and  in  the  hands  of  practical,  persevering 
spirits,  they  accepted  the  trust. 

Miss  Helen  Peabody,  then  of  St.  Louis,  who  had 
been  associated  with  Mary  Lyon,  first  as  pupil  and 
then  as  teacher,  was  selected  as  principal,  with  an 
efficient  corps  of  teachers. 

Thus  embodied  in  form  and  vitalized  into  life,  this 
seminary  was  dedicated  to  God  on  the  20th  day  of 
September,  1855,  by  the  broad  minded  men  and  wo- 
men who  had  builded  into  it  their  prayers,  their  hearts 
and  their  sacrifices.  The  house  was  already  full  of 
pupils,  and  the  outlook  for  the  future  most  promising. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  the  following  pages  to  unfold  in 
their  warmth  and  beauty  the  history,  then  unwritten 
except  in  God's  great  plan,  of  the  years  which  were 
to  follow,  with  their  thrilling  providences,  their  dews 
of  divine  grace  and  favor,  their  tender  leadings,  their 
earnest,  patient  lives  and  their  wondrous  fruitage. 

The  reader  will  find  this  history,  not  in  ordinary 
chronological  narrative,  but  in   flashes  of  light  here 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  5 

and  there  upon  the  hearts  and  lives  of  those  who  have 
lived  it. 

May  he  who  is  '^  our  dwelling  place  in  all  genera- 
tions/' he  who  has  said  "  Ye  have  not  chosen  me, 
but  I  have  chosen  you,  and  ordained  you,  that  ye 
should  go  and  bring  forth  fruit,  and  that  your  fruit 
should  remain/'  inspire  and  illumine  these  pages,  that 
they  may  show  his  power  to  work  through  ^^  earthen 
vessels''  to  the  glory  of  his  own  great  name. 


THE   HOLYOKE  SYSTEM. 


The  first  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  January  14^ 
1860.  The  following  article  appeared  in  the  Christian 
Herald  in  March  of  the  same  year.  It  was  written 
by  Miss  Phebe  McKeen,  one  of  the  early  teachers, 
greatly  beloved,  whose  pure  spirit  and  noble,  polished 
mind  were  potent  influences  in  molding  character  in 
this  young  school.  Her  recent  death,  in  May  of  the 
present  year,  cast  a  deep  shadow  upon  many  hearts, 
not  only  of  her  former  Western  pupils,  but  of  her 
more  recent  ones  at  Abbot  Academy,  Andover,  Mass. 
At  this  distance  deep  interest  attaches  to  this  sketch 
as  one  of  our  ^^  memerial  stones,"  and  it  is  appropriate 
here  as  setting  forth  the  peculiarities  of  this  system, 
by  one  who  had  not  herself  been  trained  under  it, 
who  was  wholly  disconnected  with  it  at  the  time  of 
writing,  yet  knew  it  intimately. 

THE    HOLYOKE    SYSTEM. 

^^  This  expression,  like  many  others,  has  for  many 
persons  a  very  familiar  sound,  but  a  very  indefinite 
meaning,  and  even  the  significance  which  is  attached 
to  it  is  often  far  from  correct. 

It  has  been  a  popular  error  to  suppose  it  the  main 
object  of  Mt.  Holyoke  Seminary  and  its  younger  sis- 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  7 

ters  at  Oxford  and  Painesville,  Ohio,  to  train  our 
young  ladies  in  cookery,  sweeping,  dusting,  washing 
dishes  and  whatever  else  pertains  to  the  education  of 
a  universal  housemaid.  Persons  who  so  believe  ut- 
terly misconceive  the  spirit  and  object  of  those  insti- 
tutions. 

It  has  been  found,  by  an  experiment  of  twenty 
years,  that  all  the  household  labor  of  a  family  number- 
ing from  one  hundred  and  seventy  to  three  hundred 
ladies,  can  easily  be  done  by  its  members.  Although 
no  female  domestic  is  employed  in  either  of  these 
boarding  schools,  no  one  of  the  young  ladies  is  thus 
busied  more  than  sixty  or  seventy-five  minutes  daily. 
Advantages  are  found  in  this  arrangement.  Self- 
reliance  and  promptitude  are  cultivated.  Indolence, 
fatal  alike  to  habits  of  mind  and  body,  is  combatted. 
The  respectability  of  labor  is  maintained.  That 
spirit  of  equality  which  it  becomes  every  American 
citizen  to  cherish  is  fostered,  and  the  aristocracy  of 
intellect  and  moral  worth  breaks  its  way  the  more 
easily  through  artificial  distinctions,  often  no  less 
marked  in  young  ladies^  boarding  schools  than  in 
larger  communities.  Moreover,  by  this  provision  the 
pupils  are  relieved  of  a  servant's  bill. 

This  feature,  however,  prominent  as  it  is  to  popular 
notice,  is  merely  incidental  to  this  system.  Its  center 
and  soul,  as  that  of  all  true  educational  systems,  is  the 
idea  that  every  being  that  God  has  made  is  to  be  strength- 
ened and  ennobled  for  his  service.  This  soul,  pervading 
a  plan  of  study,  discipline  and  social  order,  has  made 
it  peculiarly  effective.  That  no  daughter  of  our  lie- 
public  may  lack  the   means  of  self-culture,  facilitise 


8  WESTERN   FEMALE   SEMINARY. 

are  offered  at  a  price  which  any  healthful,  energetic 
American  girl  can  command,  though  self-dependent. 

To  this  end  the  endowment  is  given  freely  and 
absolutely — given  to  God — to  be  used  in  fitting  his 
children  to  do  his  work.  No  proprietor,  stockholder 
or  teacher  expects  any  dividend  from  it.  Thus  en- 
dowed and  untrammeled  by  personal  interest,  the 
government  of  the  school  can  be  administered  with 
impartial  equity.  The  highest  good  of  the  school  can 
be  consulted  without  catering  with  painful  servility  to 
the  tastes  of  a  capricious  public.  That  course  of  study 
can  be  prescribed  to  each  pupil  which  will  make  her 
most  a  woman,  not  that  which  will  bring  most  cash 
into  the  treasury.  The  advantages  of  this  independent 
endowment  to  the  character  of  a  school  are  more  wide 
and  deep,  by  far,  than  the  mere  convenience  of  its 
managers.  Mt.  Holyoke  Seminary  sprang  into  life  to 
meet  the  wants  of  a  class  hungering  and  thirsting  after 
knowledge,  feeling  in  every  pulsation  of  a  vigorous 
nature  the  power  to  he,  and  the  will  to  do,  if  they 
might  only  know.  But  poverty  is  the  grimmest  of 
dragons,  and  the  golden  fruit  seems  hopeless.  Western 
farmers  are  richer  than  the  yeomen  of  stern  New  Eng- 
land hills,  and  their  daughters  can  meet  a  greater  ex- 
pense at  school.  Yet  are  there  not  in  every  community 
young  ladies  of  limited  means  and  noble  aspirations, 
to  whom  a  liberal  education  on  moderate  terms  would 
come  as  a  gift  from  God?  The  gift  has  been  won  for 
them  by  a  great  soul  from  among  themselves.  The 
prayers  and  eloquence,  the  wise  but  dauntless  zeal  of 
Mary  Lyon  will  never  cease  to  bless  the  world. 

But  the  schools  at  S.  Hadley  and  Oxford  have  by 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  9 

no  means  been  patronized  by  those  only,  who  are  un- 
able to  meet  higher  charges.  Almost  immediately 
Mt.  Holyoke  was  accorded  the  foremost  ranks  of  New 
England  schools,  and  multitudes  from  the  wealthier 
classes,  who  wish  their  daughters  trained  for  useful- 
ness, have  been  no  less  eager  to  claim  its  advantages, 
than  those  to  whom  economy  is  indispensable.  It  has 
been  so  at  Oxford  also.  Is  not  any  course  of  educa- 
tion to  be  honored  which  sends  out  graduates  pene- 
trated with  the  fact  that  a  work  is  waiting  for  them 
in  the  needy  world  ? 

No  young  girl  not  utterly  insensible  to  influence, 
can  spend  three  years  at  either  of  these  schools  and 
sink  contentedly  down  into  an  aimless  and  useless  ex- 
istence. It  is  the  constant,  prayerful  effort  to  make 
young  ladies  understand  that  life  has  a  meaning  as 
deep  and  lasting  as  eternity. 

There  are  some  who  think  of  these  schools,  how- 
ever, with  a  kind  of  shudder,  as  dismal  convents, 
where  the  young  and  gay  are  driven  by  martial  law, 
exacting  tasks  and  monastical  austerities,  into  sancti- 
monious gloom.  They  imagine  these  unfortunates 
shut  out  from  the  world,  hemmed  in  by  arbitrary 
rules,  watched  by  grave  and  unsympathizing  teachers ; 
as  wasting  in  silence  all  the  freshness,  sparkle  and 
fragrance  of  youth.  These  kind-hearted  people  have 
never  caught,  perhaps,  the  echo  of  girlish  laughter 
and  merry  song  with  which  the  Oxford  grove  has  so 
often  rung.  It  might  alleviate  their  pity  if  they  could 
see  the  kindling  eye  of  love  those  teachers  have  been 
wont  to  meet  in  all  their  daily  care,  or  read  the  letters 
of  fervent  gratitude  and  affection  which  every  week 


10  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

brings  to  the  old  homestead  from  the  scattered  chil- 
dren. In  that  terrible  January  midnight  when  the 
Western  Female  Seminary  was  in  flames,  they  should 
have  heard  these  young  girls,  when  told  to  leave  the 
house  and  save  themselves,  pleading,  "  We  can  not  see 
our  home  burned  down.  We  can  atid  we  will  save  it, 
if  you  will  let  us  try  longer.^'  Ah,  there  was  such  a 
comment,  not  only  on  womanhood,  but  on  the  spirit 
and  training  of  that  school,  as  no  words  could  ever 
express!  Years  of  quiet,  self-conquering  toil  had 
nourished  the  spirit  of  love  and  strength  which  showed 
its  heroism  in  that  dreadful  scene. 

This  is  the  model  of  character  which  the  Western 
Seminary  has  been  trying  to  form  in  your  daughters. 

Perhaps  it  was  one  purpose  for  which  God  suffered 
its  building  to  be  consumed,  that  you  might  see  in  the 
light  of  those  fierce  flames  the  type  of  spirit  He  is 
educating  there — a  spirit  which  can  meet  the  emergen- 
cies of  life  with  self- forgetful  courage. 

They  are  not  the  terrible  passages  of  life  alone 
which  call  for  such  a  character.  It  is  needed  every 
day  in  the  great  home  realm  where  these  girls  are  de- 
signed to  reign. 

Another  marked  feature  of  Mt.  Holyoke  and  the 
Western  Female  Seminary  is  Gonscientiousness  in  study. 
Graduation  at  a  thoroughly  Christian  institution  is  no 
farce.  A  teacher  who  acts  for  God  will  not  suffer 
pretense  and  sham  in  education. 

If  the  men  of  the  West  want  their  daughters  to  be- 
come clear-headed,  warm-hearted,  energetic,  Christian 
ladies,  they  cannot  do  better  than  to  help  the  Western 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  H 

Female  Seminary.  The  patriotic  citizens  of  Ohio, 
Indiana  and  Illinois  can  not  more  directly  elevate  the 
whole  tone  of  society  and  secure  its  weal,  than  by  cul- 
tivating such  a  type  of  womanhood.  The  first  appeal 
to  Christian  liberality  in  behalf  of  this  seminary  was 
made  while  it  was  an  untried,  and  to  many  minds,  a 
doubtful  experiment.  It  must  be  very  grateful  to  its 
friends  that  they  come  to  you  now  with  assurance. 
The  young  enterprise  has  nobly  redeemed  its  promises. 

Let  a  building  rise  from  the  ashes  which  will  stand 
a  worthy  monument  to  the  intelligence  and  whole- 
souled  generosity  of  the  Western  States. 

A  school  which  has  been  so  accepted  and  crowned 
by  God,  which  is  endeared  to  so  many  Christian 
hearts  by  willing  sacrifice,  which  had  the  fond  rever- 
ence of  so  many  young,  earnest  women  and  the  grati- 
tude of  so  many  fathers  and  mothers,  can  never  be 
deserted.  A  sentiment  of  honor  will  forbid  any  man 
of  means,  whose  daughter  has  enjoyed  the  cheap,  yet 
rich,  advantages   of  the  seminary,  to  neglect  it  now. 

Give  to  it — give  generously,  nobly^ — feeling  that 
you  are  helping  to  rear  a  home  where  the  children  of 
God  may  be  fitted  to  work  his  will.  Let  the  edifice 
be  more  thoroughly  built  than  before,  the  library 
more  choice,  the  apparatus  more  full,  the  endowment 
more  ample. 


AFTER  MANY  YEAES. 


The  last  week  in  January,  1880,  there  went  out 
from  the  seminary  several  hundred  little  missives 
which  tell  their  own  story  : 

Western  Female  Seminary, 

Oxford,  0.,  January  22,  1880. 
To  the  Alumnx  of  the  Seminary  : 

Dearly  Beloved— On  the  17th  of  June,  1880,  we  shall 
complete  a  quarter  of  a  century  in  our  eventful  history  as  an 
institution.  Twenty-four  classes  have  gone  forth  from  the 
sheltering  arms  of  their  Alma  Mater,  and  the  twenty-fifth  is 
about  to  unclasp  hands  to  take  up  life's  work.  We  count  416 
precious  jewels.  Thirty-five  already  adorn  the  Savior's  reme- 
dial crown,  while  381  are  still  in  the  hands  of  the  lapidary.  Alma 
Mater  would  gather  up  her  scattered  gems,  look  upon  their 
growing  beauty  and  string  the  necklace  to  wear  on  her  natal 
day.  But  you,  beloved  daughters,  will  each  remember  that  she 
sent  you  forth  to  serve,  as  well  as  by  your  unselfish  service  to 
adorn,  the  church  of  Christ  in  the  world.  And  now  she 
would  have  you  come  back  and  talk  together  of  what  you  have 
found  to  do  for  the  Master,  and  report  what  remains  to  be 
done.  Have  you  found  the  culture  and  discipline  you  re- 
ceived from  your  seminary  life  helpful  in  the  services  and 
sacrifices  that  you  have  had  the  opportunity  to  render  ?  We 
wish  to  hear  your  testimony  and  experience  for  the  encour- 
agement and  help  it  will  afford  us  in  entering  upon  the  work 
of  the  coming  twenty-five  years.  Has  the  anchor  held  in  the 
storm  ?    Has  the  shield  proved  sufficient  for  all  the  fiery  darts 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  13 

of  the  wicked  ?  Has  any  part  of  the  armor  failed  in  the  day 
of  battle?  Come,  if  you  can,  and  tell  us.  If  you  can  not 
come,  send  your  written  testimony.  We  send  the  call  all 
along  the  lines  that  have  gone  out  into  all  the  earth.  We 
wait  for  the  answer  to  come  back  to  this  center  station  from 
Persia,  Turkey,  Syria,  India,  China,  Siam,  Laos;  from  our 
Indian  frontiers,  from  Mormon  heathendom,  home  missionary 
fields  far  and  near,  from  the  sunny  South  and  sterner  North, 
from  the  school  room  and  the  home  where  little  children  and 
grown-up  sons  and  daughters  call  you  mother.  God  bless 
them  and  make  them  a  blessing.  Come !  Come  one  and  all, 
and  let  us  stand  together  with  unsandaled  feet  around  the 
burning  bush  ("  always  on  fire,  yet  never  consumed  because 
God  is  in  it ").  "  Did  ever  people  hear  the  voice  of  God  speak- 
ing out  of  the  midst  of  the  fire  as  thou  hast  heard  it  and 
live?  Unto  thee  it  was  shewed  that  thou  mightest  know 
that  the  Lord  he  is  God;  there  is  none  else  beside  him." 
Again  let  us  listen  to  his  voice  out  of  the  fire,  the  sword,  the 
pestilence,  that  he  may  instruct  us.  Out  of  these  memorial 
stones  furnished  from  your  individual  experience  and  the 
history  of  our  beloved  seminar}^,  let  us  erect  upon  the  spot, 
where  the  ark  of  the  covenant  stood,  a  monument  to  his 
praise ;  "  that  when  your  children  ask  their  fathers  in  time  to 
come,  saying  '  What  mean  ye  by  these  stones  ? '  Then  ye  shall 
answer  them, '  Immanuel !  God  with  us,  almighty  in  power, 
infinite  in  wisdom  and  love,  faithful  to  all  generations.' " 

The  object  of  this  reunion  will  be  to  bring  mutual  joy  and 
refreshment  to  you  and  your  Alma  Mater,  and  put  honor 
upon  him  who  has  so  honored  and  blest  it.  The  reunion 
services  will  take  place  on  Wednesdey,  the  10th,  the  day  before 
anniversary.  Let  us  hear  from  you  at  once.  First,  whether 
you  can  or  can  not  respond  to  this  invitation.  If  you  are  not 
certain,  let  us  know  the  degree  of  probability  in  the  case. 
You  will  see  our  need  of  this  information  in  preparing  for 
the  comfort  of  so  many.  Second,  your  exact  address  for  the 
new  catalogue.  State  also  any  change  of  address  of  any  grad- 
uate known  to  you.     In  behalf  of  the  teachers  and  trustees. 

Yours  in  abiding  love, 

Helen  Peabody. 


14  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

TO   THE    TEACHERS, 

My  Dear  Friend  and  True  ye  he  Fellow  : 

In  making  our  plans  for  the  pleasure  and  profit  of  our  be- 
loved Alumnse,  at  our  anticipated  reunion  in  June,  we  most 
earnestly  solicit  your  presence. 

Nothing  can  give  greater  pleasure  to  those  we  hope  to  wel- 
come on  that  occasion,  than  again  to  look  into  the  faces  of 
their  old  teachers,  clasp  hands  and  recall  the  memories  of 
"  long  ago."  This  will  be  a  mutual  joy.  You  have  seen  the 
''  blade,"  and  some  of  you  the  "  ear,"  now  come  and  look  upon 
^'  the  full  corn  in  the  ear."  If  you  can  not  come,  write  us 
fully  of  yourself  and  your  experiences.  If  you  can  come,  let 
us  know  when  to  expect  you. 

The  reunion  Avill  be  held  on  June  16,  1880. 

Yours  ever,  Helen  Peabody. 

Who  but  the  recipients  can  know  the  thrill  of  joy- 
ful anticipation,  the  flood  of  memories  and  the  deep- 
searching  retrospect  these  little  messengers  awakened  ? 

"Vacation"  is  a  factor  of  school  life,  but  not  so 
often  of  mature  life,  with  its  ceaseless  round  of  re- 
sponsibilities and  activities.  But  now  a  blessed  vaca- 
tion was  coming  to  women,  whose  lives  for  years  had 
been  lost  to  themselves  in  continuous  thought  and  ser- 
vice for  others.  Mothers  were  to  be  girls  again, 
teachers  to  be  pupils.  The  strain  and  tension  of  sus- 
taining one^s  part  was  to  be  relaxed  for  two  precious 
days,  while  all  gathered  home  again  for  a  heart  rest, 
such  as  their  lives  could  know  but  once. 

On  May  6,  1876,  had  been  held  a  reunion  of  the 
first  six  classes,  in  honor  of  the  fiftieth  birthday  of 
our  dear  Miss  Peabody,  twenty-one  of  whose  fifty 
beautiful  years  had  been  measured  by  unremitted  cares 
and  labors  of  love  in  this  consecrated  spot.     Twenty- 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  15 

one  alumnse  and  fourteen  of  their  children  were 
present. 

Of  that  reunion  the  repc^'t  says :  There  is  no  nice 
chenciical  process  of  which  we  know,  by  which  those 
sweet  emotions  which  were  stirring  in  all  our  hearts, 
making  it  rare  joy  to  sit  together  and  look  in  each 
other^s  faces,  can  be  crystalized  into  words.  The  sun- 
shine, so  bright,  so  powerful,  so  full  of  gracious  influ- 
ences, may  not  be  sealed  up  and  brought  forth  on 
darker  days.  Where  our  enjoyment  was  made  up  of 
what  we  were  feeling,  thinking,  living,  more  than  what 
we  were  doing,  it  has  been  especially  hard  to  put  in 
writing  the  things  that  would  make  you  know,  sym- 
pathize and  enjoy  with  us. 

As  one  expressed  it,  ^'  To  come  back  after  the  wan- 
derings of  years  in  the  uncertain  wilderness  to  which 
we  had  betaken  ourselves  with  such  high  hopes  and 
happy  ignorance,  was  a  joy  indeed/^  The  school  girls 
of  long  ago  were  coming  back  schooled  girls.  The 
spot  was  very  dear  to  us,  and  the  dear  heart^that  had 
been  our  best  friend  and  guide  in  our  happy  school 
days,  was  waiting  to  receive  us  and  our  little  ones 
with  the  same  fond  love  and  sympathy. 

We  can  not  tell  you  half  the  joy  it  was  to  look  into 
each  other's  faces,  clasp  each  other  by  the  hand,  or, 
with  our  arms  intertwined  as  of  yore,  to  find  the  same 
sympathy  which  blessed  our  school  days,  stitt  a  living 
bond  between  us.  We  do  not  know  when  our  good 
time  began,  but  we  think  it  was  when  we  received 
that  invitation  in  March. 

If  this  was  true,  by  what  "  chemical  process  "  can 
we  "  crystalize  into  words  '^  those  sweet  emotions  and 


IQ  WFSTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

rare  joys  in  the  gathering  of  twenty-five  classes,  the 
meeting  of  the  older  and  the  younger  of  our  sister- 
hood, the  blending  of  the  lights  and  shades  of  four 
hundred  lives.  We  rather  think  this  good  time,  too, 
'^  began  when  we  received  that  invitation  in  ^'  January. 

For  once  there  was  a  fixed  star  in  all  our  lives.  It 
was  "Wednesday,  the  16th  of  June."  All  plans 
pointed  toward  it,  clustered  around  it,  and  for  the 
present  there  was  no  beyond.  Even  those  who  real- 
ized they  could  not  attend,  expected  by  some  sort  of 
spiritual  telephone,  to  hear  the  echoes  and  feel  the 
sweet  influences  of  the  day  in  their  homes  and  their 
distant  mission  fields,  and  almost  waited  for  the  bap- 
tism of  blessing  and  strength  it  would  bring,  to  re- 
sume "  their  wanderings  in  the  uncertain  wilderness 
to  which  they  had  betaken  themselves." 

At  the  Seminary,  loving  responses  were  coming  in 
with  every  mail;  acceptance  or  regrets,  with  thrill- 
ing, heart-touching  answers  to  Miss  Peabody's  ques- 
tions, *^  Have  you  found  the  culture  and  discipline 
helpful  ?  "  "  Has  the  anchor  held  ?"  "  Has  the  ar- 
mor failed  ?  "  Active  plans  of  preparation  to  welcome 
the  home  comers  began  to  quicken  life  at  the  Sem- 
inary. Never  were  woman's  tact  and  invention  drawn 
upon  more  lavishly  to  devise  all  the  possibilities  of  a 
royal  welcome  and  a  royal  hospitality. 


THE  HOME  COMING. 


On  Monday  the  arrivals  began,  but  Tuesday  was 
the  great  day  of  expectancy.  Every  train  brought 
many.  The  "  reunion  ['  had  already  begun  on  trains 
and  in  depots.  Stepping  into  the  old  familiar  omni- 
busses,  each  one  flashed  a  quick  inquiring  glance  at  the 
other  occupants,  rewarded  often  by  a  burst  of  joyous 
surprise. 

Eager  eyes  noted  every  shade  of  change  in  Oxford, 
and  along  the  drive  to  the  seminary.  To  the  older 
ones  these  changes  were  many.  The  signs  were  new 
and  strange,  and  the  ubiquitous  Miami  '^  student  ^^ 
was  missed  from  the  street,  while  the  university,  no 
longer  yellow,  with  a  chapel  and  tower  added,  was 
almost  concealed  by  the  luxuriant  growth  of  hedge 
and  forest  trees. 

Entering  the  grounds  "the  cluster^'  nods  patron- 
izingly. Being  elms,  they  grow  slowly,  anxious  we 
suppose  to  retain  their  sentry  post  as  long  as  possible. 
The  other  trees  seem  hastening,  like  those  of  the 
university  campus,  after  the  ancient  appellation  of  the 
classic  "shades  of  Academus.^^ 

"  Lewis  House  '^  has  disappeared  long  since ; 
familiar  trees  are  missed  from  the  old  orchard,  while 
the  remainder  are  gnarled  and  infirm.  A  sedate 
2 


18  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

matron  points  out  to  the  little  daughter  beside  her 
the  tree  she  used  to  climb  because  she  was  ^'  so  small/^ 
to  throw  down  apples  for  the  larger  girls,  and  the  hill 
down  which  they  used  to  coast. 

The  once  diminutive  evergreens  now  stand  out  in 
stately,  dark  green  proportions,  most  striking  chro- 
nometers of  years  that  have  gone. 

These  evergreens  first  greeted  the  eyes  of  seminary 
girls  on  returning  from  the  spring  vacation  of  1857^ 
and  in  those  days  girls  used  to  wonder  if  they  would 
ever  be  large  enough  to  sit  under,  and  who  would  sit 
under  them. 

Scores  of  new  fruit  trees  on  every  side  assert  their 
right  of  possession  by  token  of  the  young  fruit  on 
their  branches.  The  young  maples  of  twenty-two 
years  ago,  near  the  front  door,  with  the  bowlders  at 
their  feet,  have  acquired  the  dignity  of  trees  almost 
over-topping  the  seminary. 

What  will  all  these  trees  be  at  the  golden  wedding  ? 
We  leave  the  chronicler  of  that  happy  event  to  answer 
the  question. 

The  woody  point  beyond  the  limits  south,  has  been 
cleared,  affording  pretty  glimpses  of  the  cemetery^ 
whose  silent  white  monuments,  also,  have  their  tender 
associations  with  Oxford  friends,  whose  lives  were 
once  lovingly  interwoven  with  seminary  history. 
That  same  woody  point  used  to  tempt  us  sorely,  with 
its  pleasant  shade,  while  its  trees,  before  the  railroad 
was  built,  hid  the  passing  stage  without  deadening  its 
rumble,  so  suggestive  of  "  going  home  "  or  letters  that 
were  coming. 

On  the  north,  the  grounds  have  been  extended  to 


LAKE,  ICE  HOUSE  AND  BRIDGE. 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  19 

enclose  thirty-five  additional  acres,  and  a  new  (now 
old),  gravel  walk  to  the  street  has  been  made,  running 
down  over  the  northern  slope  in  front  of  the  buildiDg, 
descending  steps  through  rustic  arbor,  crossing  on 
rustic  bridge  above  the  pond,  on  along  the  brow  of 
the  hill  enclosed  in  the  new  addition.  A  glance  took 
in  all  these  changes,  while  eager  impatience  anticipated 
the  greetings  which  awaited. 

The  crowning  moment  of  arrival  was  when  each 
alighted  from  the  omnibus,  ascended  the  steps,  and 
met  Miss  Peabodj,  with  beaming  face,  awaiting  at 
the  top  to  give  the  hand  and  kiss  of  welcome,  just  as 
she  has  met  and  welcomed  in  all  past  years  hundreds 
of  timid  young  hearts  coming  up  those  steps,  equally 
divided  between  homesickness,  anxieties  about  intro- 
ductory examinations,  and  aspirations  long  since  real- 
ized, forgotten,  or  still  beckoning  on. 

Behind  and  beside  her,  filling  the  portico  and  the 
hall,  was  a  charming  group  of  eager  faces,  some  still 
fresh  and  young,  and  some  upon  which  life  had  written 
lines  of  care,  the  maturing  touches  of  thought,  and  the 
mellowing  influences  of  loving  ministry,  crowned  with 
hair  already  silvering. 

As  each  new  comer  was  welcomed  by  Miss  Pea- 
body,  and  then  handed  over  to  this  company,  increas- 
ing with  every  fresh  arrival,  it  was  interesting  for 
lookers  on  to  guess  who  among  them  would  rush  for- 
ward to  claim  her.  No  one  failed  to  be  greeted  with 
glad  recognition  and  outstretched  arms  by  some  class- 
mate or  friend,  who  had  probably  but  just  run  this 
delightful  gauntlet  herself.  The  little  ^^  grand  chil- 
dren ^'  were  quite  over-awed  by  the  tumultous  order  of 


20  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

this  style  of  reception.  This  continued  until  112 
graduates,  twelve  ^'  grand  children  '^  and  a  goodly 
number  of  former  teachers  were  gathered  within  the 
fold.  All  these,  together  with  several  of  the  trustees 
and  their  wives  and  other  family  guests,  to  the  num- 
ber of  150,  were  entertained  within  the  seminary. 

We  liaVfC  secretly  extracted  from  the  seminary  jour- 
nal of  last  year,  a  passage  which  briefly  foreshadows 
the  arrangement  by  which  so  many  were  entertained. 

"  It  will  hardly  be  possible  to  close  the  twenty-fifth 
journal  without  giving  a  whisper  of  the  birthday  party 
that  our  Alma  Mater  expects  to  have  June  16.  Many 
of  the  children  will  be  home — perhaps  a  hundred — 
bringing  an  occasional  grand  child.  We  expect  to 
shrink,  as  did  Milton's  spirits,  into  the  smallest  pos- 
sible compass ;  beds  are  to  be  improvised  and  sub- 
divided ;  eating  is  to  be  done  in  collation  style." 

And  now  we  hesitate  upon  the  threshold,  wondering 
how  we  can  portray  the  two  days  to  follow,  so  soul- 
thrilling  as  they  were  to  the  participants.  The  home 
gathering  of  the  old  New  England  families  at  Thanks- 
giving time;  the  busy  preparations  in  the  way  of 
baking  and  roasting  and  boiling  ;  the  cordial  welcome  ; 
the  merry  greetings ;  the  joy  of  sitting  together  around 
the  old  fire-place ;  the  peace  that  comes  to  careworn 
men  and  women  when  they  find  themselves  children 
again  in  their  father's  home ;  above  all,  the  holy  calm 
that  settles  upon  each  heart  as  they  kneel  at  the  family 
altar;  we  can  think  of  nothing  else  that  will  picture 
the  seminary  home  gathering  this  twenty-fifth  anni- 
versary. 

It  was  no  scanty  hospitality  that  could  make  room 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  21 

for  SO  many  guests.  From  basement  to  attic  the 
preparations  were  perfect,  and  we  can  only  imagine 
how  many  steps  must  have  been  taken,  and  how  many 
hours  spent,  by  teachers  and  pupils,  to  make  our  wel- 
come home  such  a  beautiful  one.  We  who  have  lived 
in  that  busy  hive,  where  every  hour  seems  to  have  its 
own  duty,  were  even  puzzled  to  guess  how  time  had 
been  found  to  accomplish  so  much ;  but  knowing  that 
it  had  all  been  done  in  love,  we  accepted  it  gratefully, 
finding  our  hearts  filled  with  love  in  return,  for  the 
younger  sisters  who  had  given  up  their  rooms  for  us, 
and  to  all  whose  heads  and  hands  and  feet  had  worked 
so  cheerfully  in  our  behalf. 

We  found  everything  speaking  a  sweet  welcome. 
The  words  of  those  who  waited  to  receive  us  did  not 
utter  it  more  distinctly  than  the  silent  speech  of  the 
multitude  of  little  details  of  preparation  that  greeted 
us  at  every  turn.  Entering  the  reception  room  on 
the  left,  we  saw  phantom  letters  suspended  by  invisible 
threads,  "The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us, 
whereof  we  are  glad." 

From  the  walls  of  the  main  hall,  library  and  other 
public  rooms,  looked  down  upon  us  our  own  class  mot- 
toes, in  tasteful  devices,  bringing  back  precious  school- 
day  memories,  and  giving  us  each  a  place  in  the  wonder- 
ful history  of  the  seminary.  In  the  dining  room  we 
found  ourselves  in  a  bower  of  evergreen  decoration, 
and  we  looked  up  from  the  tables  so  bountifully  spread 
for  us  to  see  suspended  among  festoons  and  garlands  the 
words,  "  Whether  therefore  ye  eat  or  drink,  or  what- 
soever ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God.'^ 

And  so  we  found  all  things  ready  that  loving  thought 


22  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

and  unselfish  pains-taking  could  devise,  but  sweetest 
of  all  we  found  constant  reminders  that,  cordially  as 
we  had  been  invited,  there  was  one  guest  whose  pres- 
ence had  been  more  earnestly  sought  than  ours  and 
that  he  had  arrived  before  us,  who  once  said,  "  Be- 
hold, I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock;  if  any  man  hear 
my  voice  and  open  the  door  I  will  come  in  to  him, 
and  will  sup  with  him  and  he  with  me.'^  Earnest 
prayer  had  been  offered  that  he  would  set  his  seal 
upon  this  perfect  time  and  manifest  His  presence  by 
saving  grace,  and  the  token  came.  One  young  heart 
was  consecrated  to  the  Master  even  amid  these  festal 

joys. 

Among  the  tenderest  moments  of  these  days  were 
those  when,  in  the  hush  of  the  dining  room,  the  dear 
familiar  old  hymns  shed  a  holy  peace  upon  every 
heart,  and  Miss  Peabody's  voice  was  heard  reading  the 
same  precious  chapters  which  her  voice  long  years  ago 
had  deeply  graven  in  our  memories,  to  be  forever  in- 
separably associated  with  her  and  with  family  devo- 
tions at  the  seminary. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  note  all  the  unexpected 
and  delightful  little  things  which  made  every  succes- 
sive moment  a  new  joy;  staid  matrons  unconsciously 
calling  each  other  '^  girls,''  and  then  enquiring  about 
their  respective  husbands  and  children;  little  people 
growing  wonderfully  intimate  in  a  few  moments  by  aid 
of  this  new  sort  of  ^^  cousinship."  Even  the  little 
chairs  stood  here  and  there,  as  if  in  anticipation  of  the 
little  folks.  Seven  of  the  Aluranse  present  had  been 
present  at  the  first  dedication,  twenty-five  years  before. 
Among  the  very  pleasant  things,   was  the  attendance 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  23 

of  Mrs.  Isabella  [Riggs]  Williams,  of  the  Class  of  61, 
and  her  husband,  Rev.  Mark  Williams,  from  their 
mission  field  at  Kalgan,  China,  with  Iheir  beautiful 
baby  twins,  who  looked  so  much  alike  that  even  their 
father  could  scarcely  tell  whether  it  was  "  this  one  ''  or 
''  the  other  one  "— ''  Kate  ''  or  "  Duplicate.'' 

The  only  other  ^^  brother-in-law  "  who  graced  our 
reunion,  was  Rev.  A.  M.  Darley,  from  the  home  mis- 
sion fields  of  Colorado,  the  husband  of  Anna  Gow, 
who  sent  him  to  represent  her.  It  is  a  pleasure  to 
fancy  that  all  the  good  "  brothers-in-law  ''  who  staid  at 
home  and  kept  house,  and  took  care  of  the  children, 
whom  there  was  not  room  enough  to  invite,  while 
their  wives  came  to  the  reunion,  are  now  sharing  with 
other  absent  ones  in  the  pleasure  of  this  "  reflected  re- 
union.'' 

On  Tuesday  evening  an  interesting  musical  and 
literary  entertainment  was  given  in  the  hall  by  the 
teachers  and  pupils.  Miss  Dora  Phillips,  the  elocution 
teacher,  contributed  several  very  entertaining  recita- 
tions. 


REUNION  DAY. 


FORENOON    EXERCISES. 

"  Sweet  day,  so  cool,  so  calm,  so  bright, 
The  bridal  of  the  earth  and  sky." 

The  blending  of  earth^s  richest  experience  with 
Heaven's  brightest  anticipations,  at  the  foot  of  the 
Throne  itself,  with  the  Heavenly  light  streaming 
down.     Such  was  this  day. 

Immediately  after  breakfast  Miss  Peabody  met  the 
alumnse  in  the  hall  to  arrange  their  seats,  the  pupils 
very  kindly  taking  other  places.  It  was  like  merry 
old  times  to  be  called  off  by  classes  again,  and  assigned 
to  seats  as  in  days  of  yore,  only,  shocking  to  relate  I 
Miss  Peabody  was  obliged  to  check  the  hum  of  happy 
voices  in  order  to  be  heard,  in  other  words  to  suggest 
old  rules  to  us,  and  for  once  it  was  an  actual  delight 
to  enjoy  the  school  girl's  privilege  of  obeying  rules, 
though  all  succeeded  so  poorly  that  the  "  front  seat " 
would  scarely  have  held  the  culprits. 

Will  it  do  to  betray  the  fond  mother's  pride  by  tell- 
ing what  Miss  Peabody  did  next  ?  She  said,  "  Now, 
sit  still  a  moment  while  I  go  up  on  the  platform  and 
see  how  you  look."  Gazing  an  instant,  she  exclaimed  : 
^'  Beautiful !  O,  what  a  beautiful  sight !     Dear  girls, 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  25 

for  you  will  always  be  girls  to  me,  how  I  wish  I 
could,  but  I  never  can,  tell  you  how  happy  this  makes 
me.  My  heart  thrills  through  and  through  at  sight 
of  your  familiar  faces  before  me  once  more.^^ 

An  answering  thrills  flashed  through  her  audience 
as  she  stood  before  them,  her  hands  unconsciously 
clasped  together,  unchanged  except  her  hair  slightly 
gray  and  her  figure  more  stout,  while  her  face  was 
radiantly  beautiful  with  the  love  light  and  motherly 
pride  illuminating  it.  Describing  her  afterward,  the 
earliest  graduate  present  said  :  ^^She  stood  before  us 
with  the  rapt  enthusiasm  of  an  artist  who  freshly  be- 
holds the  work  of  his  own  hands,  his  favorite  picture, 
just  returned  to  him  from  a  royal  collection,  and  bear- 
ing the  world^s  approval. 

At  eight  o^clock  a  business  meeting  of  the  Alumnae 
was  held  in  the  lecture  room.  Miss  Ellen  E.  Smith, 
class  of  '60,  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  Mrs.  Mary 
[Hale]  James,  class  of  '58,  was  chosen  secretary. 

At  nine  o'clock  Alumnse,  teachers,  pupils,  trustees, 
friends  and  invited  citizens  of  Oxford  met  in  the  hall 
for  that  heart  feast  toward  which  anticipation  and 
preparation  had  pointed  for  months 

Miss  Peabody  presided,  while  with  her  upon  the 
platform  sat  Miss  Jessup,  her  noble  face  outlined 
against  the  back  of  her  large  chair,  radiant  with  a 
happy,  triumphant  expression,  which  we  are  sure^he 
will  wear  when  all  pain  and  weariness  are  overcome ; 
her  abundant  and  loving  labors  are  laid  down,  and 
she  sees  the  pearly  gates  opening  before  her,  whither 
Miss  Lyon  and  so  many  of  her  co-laborers  and 
pupils  have   already    entered.     Beside  her  sat   dear 


26  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Mrs.  Ells  in  her  large  chair,  too,  wheeled  in  by  her 
manly  son,  whom  so  many  remembered  only  as  a  little 
boy,  her  bright,  brave,  patient  face  betraying  little  of 
the  long,  weary,  suffering  years  it  has  known  since  her 
saintly  husband,  who  was  so  much  to  the  first  seminary, 
was  called  to  leave  her  and  their  little  ones  to  our 
Father's  care ;  Mrs.  Lewis,  whose  generosity  and 
motherly  hospitality  have  made  her,  too,  so  much  to 
the  seminary,  and  greatly  endeared  her  to  successive 
teachers  and  classes.  There  were  also  Rev.  Dr.  J.  P. 
E.  Kumler,  president  of  the  board  of  trustees,  of 
which  his  deceased  father  was  one  of  the  first  and 
most  faithful  members,  with  his  wife,  formerly  Miss 
Abbie  Golding,  of  the  first  corps  of  teachers ;  Rev.  J. 
M.  Bishop  and  G.  Y.  Roots,  Esq.,  of  the  original  as 
well  as  the  present  board  of  trustees,  with  their 
wives;  the  venerable  Dr.  Little,  of  Madison,  Ind., 
and  Dr.  Pratt,  of  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  whose  familiar 
faces  date  back  to  the  second  anniversary,  now  trus- 
tees; Messrs.  Philip  Hinkle  and  Preserved  Smith, 
who  need  no  introduction  to  later  classes,  and  ere  the 
day  is  ended  will  need  none  to  the  earlier,  for  they  also 
will  have  learned  how  fully  these  two  combine  all  the 
offices  of  trustee,  benefactor,  father  and  friend  to  the 
seminary  family.  These,  with  other  trustees  and 
friends,  the  teachers  and  such  pupils  and  Alumnse  as 
were  to  assist  in  the  exercises,  occupied  seats  upon 
the  platform. 

The  services  opened  with  a  welcome  chorus,  fol- 
lowed by  a  sublimely  appropriate  Scripture  selection, 
both  by  the  school. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  27 


BIBLE  READING. 

Single  Voice— Wq  beseech  thee,  0  God  of  Hosts ;  look  down 
from  heaven,  and  behold,  and  visit  this  vine ;  and  the  vine- 
yard which  thy  right  hand  hath  planted  and  the  branch  which 
thou  madest  strong  for  thyself. 

Sclwol — My  doctrine  shall  drop  as  the  rain,  and  my  speech 
shall  distill  as  the  dew,  as  the  small  rain  upon  the  tender 
herb,  and  as  the  showers  upon  the  grass.  I  will  pour  water 
upon  him  that  is  thirsty,  and  floods  upon  the  dry  ground ;  I 
will  pour  my  spirit  upon  thy  seed,  and  my  blessing  upon 
thine  offspring.  And  they  shall  spring  up  as  among  the 
grass,  as  willows  by  the  water  courses.  One  shall  say,  I  am 
the  Lord's,  and  another  shall  call  himself  by  the  name  of 
Jacob,  and  another  shall  subscribe  with  his  hand  unto  the 
Lord,  and  surname  himself  by  the  name  of  Israel. — Ps.  Ixxx, 
14,  15;  Deut.  xxxii,  2;  Isa.  xliv,  3-5.  They  that  trust  in  the 
Lord  shall  be  as  Mount  Zion,  which  can  not  be  removed,  but 
abideth  forever. — Ps.  cxxv,  1.  Beautiful  for  situation,  the  joy 
of  the  whole  earth  is  Mount  Zion. — Ps.  xlviii,  2.  This  Mount 
Zion  wherein  thou  hast  dwelt.  The  Lord  bless  thee  out  of 
Zion. — Ps.  cxxviii,  5.  That  our  daughters  may  be  as  corner- 
stones polished  alter  the  similitude  of  a  palace. — Ps.  cxliv,  12 

Voice — What  mean  ye  by  these  stones  ? — Josh,  iv,  6. 

School — When  your  children  shall  ask.  What  mean  these 
stones  ?  then  ye  shall  let  your  children  know  saying,  Israel 
came  over  this  Jordan  on  dry  land.  For  the  Lord  your  God 
dried  up  the  waters  of  Jordon  from  before  you,  imtil  ye 
passed  over,  as  the  Lord  your  God  did  to  the'Eed  Sea,  which  he 
dried  up  from  before  us  until  we  were  gone  over.  That  all 
the  people  of  the  earth  might  know  the  hand  of  the  Lord  that 
is  mighty ;  that  ye  might  fear  the  Lord  your  God  forever. 
Josh,  iv,  21-24. 

Voice — Did  ever  people  hear  the  voice  of  God  speaking 
out  of  the  midst  of  the  fire,  as  thou  hast  heard,  and  live  ? 
Deut.  iv,  4-33. 

School — Unto  thee  it  was  showed  that  thou  mightest  know 
that  the  Lord,  he  is  God ;  there  is  none  else  beside  him.    Out 


28  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

of  heaven  he  made  thee  to  hear  his  voice,  that  he  might  in- 
struct thee ;  and  upon  earth  he  showed  thee  his  great  fire ; 
and  thou  heardest  his  words  out  of  the  midst  of  the  fire.  And 
because  he  loved  thy  fathers,  therefore  he  chose  their  seed 
after  them,  and  brought  thee  out  in  his  sight  with  his  mighty 
power  out  of  Egypt ;  to  drive  out  nations  from  before  thee 
greater  and  mightier  than  thou  art,  to  bring  thee  in,  to  give 
thee  their  land  for  an  inheritance  as  it  is  this  day.  Know,, 
therefore,  this  day  and  consider  it  in  thine  heart,  that  the 
Lord  he  is  God  in  heaven  above,  and  upon  the  earth  beneath  • 
there  is  none  else. — Deut.  iv,  35-39. 

Voice — Lord  be  thou  my  helper. — Ps.  xxx,  10. 

ScJwol — Fear  not;  I  will  help  thee. — Isa.  xli,  13.  Yea  the 
Almighty  shall  be  thy  defence,  and  thou  shalt  have  plenty  of 
silver.  For  then  shalt  thou  have  thy  delight  in  the  Almighty^ 
and  shalt  lift  up  thy  face  unto  God.  Thou  shalt  make  thy 
prayer  unto  him,  and  he  shall  hear  thee,  and  thou  shalt  pay 
thy  vows.  Then  shalt  thou  also  decree  a  thing,  and  it  shall  be 
established  unto  thee;  and  the  light  shall  shine  upon  thy 
ways.  When  men  are  cast  down  then  thou  shalt  say,  There  is 
a  lifting  up ;  and  he  shall  save  the  humble  person. — Job  xxii, 
25-29. 

Voice — Be  not  far  from  me,  for  trouble  is  near. — Ps.  xxii.,  11. 

School — He  shall  cover  thee  with  his  feathers,  and  under  his 
wings  shalt  thou  trust;  his  truth  shall  be  thy  shield  and 
buckler.  Thou  shalt  not  be  afraid  for  the  terror  by  night ; 
nor  for  the  arrow  that  fiieth  by  day ;  nor  for  the  pestilence 
that  walketh  in  darkness ;  nor  for  the  destruction  that  wasteth 
at  noonday.  A  thousand  shall  fall  at  thy  side  and  ten  thousand 
at  thy  right  hand ;  but  it  shall  not  come  nigh  thee.  Because 
thou  hast  made  the  Lord,  which  is  my  refuge,  even  the  Most 
High  thy  habitation.  There  shall  no  evil  befall  thee,  neither 
shall  any  plague  come  nigh  thy  dwelling. — Ps.  xci,  4-10. 

Voice — Save  me  from  all  them  that  persecute  me  and  de- 
liver me.-'-Ps.  vii,  1. 

School — The  Lord  your  God  which  goeth  before  you,  he 
shall  fight  for  you,  and  ye  shall  hold  your  peace. — Deut  i,  20. 
Ex.  xiv,  14. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  29 

Voice — Peliver  me  0,  Lord,  from  the  evil  man ;  preserve  me 
from  violent  man. — Ps.  cxl,  1. 

School — It  is  God  that  girdeth  me  with  strength.  He 
teacheth  my  hands  to  war.  Thou  hast  enlarged  my  steps 
under  me  that  my  feet  did  not  slip.  I  have  pursued  my  en- 
emies and  overtaken  them.  I  have  wounded  them  that  they 
were  not  able  to  rise  ;  they  are  fallen  under  my  feet.  They 
cried  but  there  was  none  to  save  them ;  even  unto  the  Lord, 
hut  he  answered  them  not ;  thou  hast  delivered  me  from  the 
violent  man.  Therefore  will  I  give  thanks  unto  thee  0  Lord, 
among  the  heathen,  and  sing  praises  unto  thy  name. — Ps. 
xviii.  It  is  better  to  trust  in  the  Lord  than  to  put  confi- 
dence in  man.  It  is  better  to  trust  in  the  Lord  than  to  put 
confidence  in  princes. — Ps.  cxviii,  8-9. 

Rev.  A.  M.  Darley  offered  the  opening  prayer,  after 
which  Miss  Alice  W.  Milligan,  Class  of  ^69,  one  of 
the  present  teachers,  gave 

THE  WELCOME. 

Jupiter  had  a  reunion. 

So  the  classical  stories  say. 
And  gathered  the  famous  immortals 

On  lofty  Olympus,  one  day. 
Each  nymph  left  her  grove  and  her  fountain ; 

Each  goddess  her  city  and  fane  ; 
The  gods,  grave  and  stern,  forsook  mountains, 

With  oceans  and  fields  of  the  slain. 
They  trampled  the  Galaxy's  star-dust, 

And  hastened  with  silvery  feet, 
To  meet  at  the  Thunderer's  palace, 

The  Omnipotent  Father  to  greet. 

But  you  come,  not  at  Jupiter's  summons, 

ISTor  even  at  Juno's,  the  Queen, 
As  might  be  suspected,  since  only 

So  few  of  the  gods  are  here  seen ; 


30  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

You  come  at  the  call  of  the  mother, 

The  fostering  mother,  so  dear 
Whose  heart  has  been  longing  and  yearning 

To  gather  her  absent  ones  near. 
Her  eyes  have  been  heavy  with  watching, 

And  weary  her  listening  ears, 
For  faces  and  voices  familiar. 

Unseen  and  unheard  through  the  years. 

She  said  to  herself  in  her  musings : 

"  I  will  send  for  my  children  to  come ; 
I  will  tell  them  their  mother  is  longing 

To  see  them  together  at  home ; 
To  have  them  troop  in  through  the  doorway, 

And  close  in  her  arms  to  enfold ; 
To  hear  the  heart  chapters  they'll  tell  her ; 

To  tell  them  the  stories  of  old ; 
So  I'll  send  then  a  mother's  love-letter 

Each  one  with  remembrance  to  stir, 
I'll  tell  her  my  birthday  is  coming. 

And  I  shall  be  looking  for  her." 

And  you  read  your  mother's  love-letter, 

And  into  your  heart  went  a  thrill. 
That  tho'  there  were  younger  children. 

She  had  kept  your  own  place  for  you  still ; 
But  the  stream  of  a  mother's  affection, 

Tho'  divided  in  hundreds  of  parts. 
Diminishes  not  b}^  the  process. 

So  vast  are  their  wonderful  hearts. 
,  And  you've  come ;  but  she  is  so  happy 

That  never  a  word  can  she  say. 
So  she  sends  me  to  give  you  this  message : 

"  You  are  welcome,  my  children,  to-day." 

But  nothing  on  earth  is  unmingied ; 

Heaven  only  is  free  from  alloy ; 
And  drops  of  the  bitter  are  brimming 

The  surface  of  each  cup  of  joy. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  31 

The  mother  looks  down  on  the  circle 

That  gathers  to-day  at  her  feet, 
And  misses — as  only  do  mothers —  ' 

The  dear  faces  not  here  to  greet ; 
For  some  are  hidden  by  distance, 

And  some  are  hidden  by  sod, 
Some  are  beaming  in  far-away  earth  homes, 

And  some  in  the  palace  of  God. 

Those  that  room  in  the  heavenly  mansions 

Plave  left  in  the  stories  below, 
Their  old  places,  empty  but  sacred, 

And  into  them  often  we  go. 
His  name  in  their  foreheads  was  written 

Ere  they  mounted  the  heavenly  stair, 
And  they  grew  like  their  Elder  Brother, 

Who  is  fairest  of  all  Heaven's  fair. 
Of  the  earth  prayers  sent  up  in  their  favor, 

The  first  one  their  Father  fulfilled, 
But  it  prayed — "  Let  those  thou  hast  given 

Be  with  me,  for  so  I  have  willed." 

With  affection  the  mother  remembers 

The  daughters  at  work  in  the  d^Rrk, 
To  kindle  afar,  on  the  hill-tops 

The  beacons  w^ith  heavenly  spark. 
For  heartrending  stories  were  told  us 

Of  souls  on  the  stormy  deep  tossed. 
That,  looking  in  vain  for  the  watch  fires. 

Without  any  heliDcr  were  lost. 
And  she  said  to  each  one  who  was  ready, 

"  Go,  daughter,  go  give  them  a  light. 
And  we'll  meet  you  again  in  the  morning 

At  the  close  of  the  brief  earthly  night." 

When  you  went  from  your  fostering  mother, 
To  the  world  you  thought  waiting  for  you. 

Bright  school-girls,  equipped  with  your  parchments, 
Adoriied  with  their  ribbons  of  blue  ; 


32  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

You  looked  for  no  clouds  that  were  darker 

Than  the  soft  snowy  drifts  of  a  June  ;  ^ 

All  roses  were  thornless  as  Eden's  ; 

AJl  nights  silvery  bright  with  the  moon; 
You  expected  no  waves  that  Avere  higher 

Than  your  boat,  of  a  pearly-lined  shell ; 
Your  bells  should  ring  gaily,  not  sadden 

The  air  with  a  sorrowful  knell. 

If  no  clouds  darkly  laden  with  thunder 

Have  hung  in  your  heavens  aloft, 
The  flakes  on  some  heads  have  been  sifted 

From  June-like  clouds,  snowy  and  soft. 
And  often,  in  gathering  roses. 

Your  hands  have  been  bleeding  and  torn. 
For  when  sin  entered  Eden,  it  grafted 

Each  beautiful  rose  with  a  thorn. 
And  sometimes  your  nights  have  been  rayless, 

Your  waves  have  dashed  into  the  skies  ; 
Your  chimes  have  been  knells,  and  your  sad  hearts 

The  fountains  of  tears  and  of  sighs. 

Your  dear  Alma  Mater  has  sorrowed 

Whenever  she  heard  of  your  grief ; 
But  she  thought  of  such  days,  when  she  taught  you 

Of  one  who  could  bring  you  relief. 
And  you  who  have  learned  that  long  lesson, 

And  to  him  in  trouble  have  run, 
Have  found  him  more  able  to  comfort 

Than  a  mother  to  comfort  a  son. 
And  you've  learned  in  your  own  bitter  trials, 

That  one  of  the  uses  of  pain 
Is  giving  God's  great  consolations 

To  comfort  another  again. 

In  coming  your  feet  were  not  silvered 

With  dust  from  the  Galaxy's  way. 
Yet  earth  dust,  is  dust  just  as  heavenly 

Since  God  made  his  image  in  clay. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  33 

Behind  you  are  roof-trees  more  sacred 

Than  groves  that  the  nymphs  left  behind, 
And  altars  more  precious  than  Vesta's 

With  fires  fanned  by  heavenly  wind. 
You  bear  not  the  names  of  immortals 

That  classical  ancients  did  sing, 
But  you  are  exalted  above  them 

Who  are  daughters  of  Heaven's  own  King. 

You  are  welcome,  from  northward  and  southward  ; 

You  are  welcome  from  east  and  from  west ; 
You  are  welcome  from  bustle  and  business; 

From  the  care  of  the  cosy  home  nest. 
And  we  want  such  a  burden  of  meaning 

To  hide  in  its  characters  seven 
That  no  welcome  you  meet,  shall  be  equal 

To  our  welcome,  this  side  of  heaven. 

Miss  Ellen  E.  Smith,  Class  of  ^60,  voiced  the  hearts 
of  all  in 

RESPONSE  TO  THE  WELCOME. 

We  have  not  needed  formal  words  of  welcome  in 
order  to  feel  assured  that  a  welcome — a  warm,  true 
well-come — was  waiting  for  us  to-day.  We  had  not 
been  true  daughters  if  Ave  could  not  read  our  mother^s 
heart,  and  ever  since  the  sweet  letter  you  sent  us, 
calling  to  us  so  earnestly,  "  Come,  come  one  and  all 
to  celebrate  the  natal  day,'^  the  thrill  of  the  waiting 
welcome  has  been  in  our  hearts.  We  have  been  im- 
patient as  the  slow  weeks  have  counted  themselves 
which  lay  between  your  call  and  our  response. 

Farther  back  than  that,  when  we  went  out  from 
your  fostering  care,  with  the  blessing  of  our  Alma 
Mater  upon  us;  the  daughter  feeling  strong  in  our 
8 


34  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

hearts ;  the  wide  world  before  us ;  and  the  sense  with 
us  that  even  the  old  familiar  world  of  our  childhood 
was  strange  and  untried  because  of  responsibility  which 
that  diploma  laid  upon  us,  we  know  that  the  phrase 
"  our  seminary  home/^  learned  so  early  in  our  school 
life,  was  no  unmeaning  one ;  that  here  was  ever  the 
home  interest ;  that  the  absent  daughters  were  ever 
remembered  at  the  family  altar  ;  that  the  mother^s 
welcome  was  ever  awaiting  us.  Even  that  first  re- 
membered moment  when  we  stood,  shy  strangers, 
upon  the  threshold,  and  in  the  awkward  consciousness 
of  unfamiliar  surroundings  told  our  names,  presaged 
in  the  first  kind  words  of  adoption  the  future  glad 
home  coming. 

Have  we  anticipated  ?  No !  for  we  are  daughters, 
and  the  daughter's  heart  answers  to  the  mother's 
heart. 

And  now  welcome  is  all  about  us ;  it  lay  by  the 
way ;  it  looked  from  the  windows  in  the  first  distant 
glimpse  of  the  roof  tree  ;  it  brightened  the  dull  depot. 
We  think  it  scattered  flowers  in  the  way  as  we  came 
along;  surely  the  birds  sang  it,  and  the  trees  waved 
it.  Here  its  atmosphere  envelopes  us.  We  find  it 
in  every  look,  and  tone,  and  word ;  every  spot  echoes 
it ;  every  beautiful  arrangement  for  our  home  coming 
and  comfort  repeats  it;  every  sweet  reminder  of  the 
things  once  precious  to  us  tells  the  story  anew. 

Mother  of  ours,  your  children  can  not  tell  you  how 
this  voiceless  welcome  touches  their  hearts. 

We  can  hope  for  no  brighter  welcome  this  side  of 
heaven. 

If  we  have  not  needed  formal  words  of  welcome, 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  35 

we  are  glad  of  them  as  they  come  to  us  in  all  their 
warmth  and  beauty,  because  they  give  us  opportunity 
to  utter  in  return  warm  words  of  gratitude,  not  only 
for  this  home  coming  privilege,  made  so  bright  by  in- 
vitation, preparation,  reception,  but  for  all  that  our 
dear  Alma  Mater  has  been  to  us  in  the  past  and  is  to 
us  now. 

We  have  not  all  come  to  give  you  greeting  to-day. 
The  many  daughters  gather  in  broken  groups.  You 
have  understood  how  distance,  or  cares,  or  little 
clinging  hands,  or  bonds  of  weakness  and  pain  have 
kept  some  of  us  from  your  side. 

Others  sowing  precious  seed,  or  busy  in  white  har- 
vest fields,  might  not  leave  their  labor,  and  some  have 
heard  already  the  sweet  words  of  welcome  from  the 
master,  and  have  entered  into  his  joy.  We  are  sad 
with  you  as  we  count  the  vacant  places. 

But  does  not  the  mother  believe  that  the  hearts  of 
all  her  children  are  making  holiday  in  memory  of 
this  natal  day  and  this  glad  reunion  ?  Surely  there 
are  thoughts  about  us  in  the  heavenly  mansions,  and 
in  the  near  and  far  away  places  which  encircle  the 
globe. 

Upon  us  all  precious  memories  of  the  days  and 
years  of  our  school  life  are  crowding  thick  and  fast 
to-day.  Scenes  and  incidents,  joys  and  trials,  suc- 
cesses and  failures,  bright  days  and  shadowed  ones, 
pleasant  and  sacred  places,  faces,  and  voices,  and 
words,  come  thronging  before  us.  We  remember  a 
happy  school  life  with  its  opportunities,  its  purposes, 
its  outlook. 

We  have  needed,  may  be,  the  light  of  the  interven- 


36  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

ing  years  since  we  went  forth  hopeful  school  girls  from, 
our  mother's  care,  to  throw  into  lull  relief  the  signifi- 
cance of  the  discipline  and  teaching  which  we  re- 
ceived here.  Sometimes  the  restraints  seemed  irk- 
some, the  tasks  hard,  the  duties  multiplied.  Now,  we 
come  to  thank  you  for  the  discipline  so  inflexible  and 
yet  so  kind.  Not  one  lesson  of  self-control  was 
needless. 

We  thank  you,  too,  for  the  thoroughness  and  exact- 
ness required  in  our  course  of  study.  The  hard  tasks 
were  not  finished  when  our  diplomas  were  put  in  our 
hands.  How  often  clearness  of  mental  vision,  and 
force  of  intellect,  and  quickness  of  discrimination,  and 
weighing  of  premises,  and  power  of  judgment,  have 
been  called  for  where  there  was  more  at  stake  than  the 
approval  of  our  teachers  or  successful  examinations. 

No  less  valuable  in  our  training  was  the  careful 
ordering  of  the  many  duties,  so  that  nothing  should 
be  neglected,  and  nothing  counted  unimportant, 
whether  it  directly  promoted  our  intellectual  progress 
or  had  to  do  with  the  comfort  of  the  household  in 
some  small  way,  whether  it  was  the  sacred  setting 
apart  of  the  still  hour,  or  the  equally  faithful  care  of 
wardrobe  and  room. 

We  thank  you  for  the  symmetrical  training  that 
this  school,  as  it  prototype,  Mt.  Holyoke  Seminary, 
and  others  akin  to  it,  seeks  to  give. 

But  this  is  not  all,  though  it  is  much.  It  is  not 
that  its  daughters  might  be  symmetrical  women  alone 
that  you  who  founded  this  seminary,  or  you  who  rep- 
resent it  and  care  for  its  interests  as  trustees,  or  you 
who  have  given  of  your  means,   or  you  w^ho  have 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY,  37 

wrought  within  it,  have  done  all  this.  We  know 
that  has  been  your  earnest  desire  to  place  the  means 
of  a  Christian  education  within  the  reach  of  all,  and 
that  the  word  Christian  has  been  emphasized  in  your 
every  thought,  desire,  plan,  for  those  who  study  here. 

It  is  with  a  gratitude  more  tender,  an  appreciation 
that  words  well  nigh  fail  to  express,  that  we  would 
speak  of  that  loving,  patient,  prayerful  care  for  that 
which  is  best  within  us,  which  we  felt  ever  about  us 
from  the  moment  we  were  adopted  into  this  household. 
Too  often  we  sadly  disappointed  your  loving  nurture. 
When  you  looked  for  fruit  sometimes,  you  found  only 
leaves.  Alas!  too  many  limes  the  precious  seed  fell 
upon  stony  ground,  or,  springing  up,  was  choked  by 
worthless  things.  If  we  had  been  more  teachable,  so 
that  all  your  desire  tor  us  might  have  been  wrought 
in  us,  how  different  might  have  been  our  record  now. 
But  we  want  to  assure  you  that  your  labor  and  your 
prayers  were  not  in  vain. 

My  sisters,  could  we  not  all  offer  personal  testimony 
to  the  value  of  the  mother's  patient  care  for  our  soul 
life,  the  tender,  vivid  teaching  from  the  ^^  Volume  of 
the  Book,'' the  helpful  influences  that  were  ever  about 


us  i 


Some  of  us  speak  with  ever  increasing  joy  of  this 
as  the  birth-place  of  our  souls,  and  reniember  lovingly 
with  what  gentle  hand  the  mother  guided  our  steps, 
when  we  were  little  ones,  in  the  Christian  way.  Others 
of  us  would  mention  with  no  less  gratitude  the  way 
made  clearer,  the  hope  brighter,  the  motives  purer, 
through  God's  blessing  upon  her  faithful  teaching. 
We  can  not  tell  you  how  many  times  words  have  come 


38  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

back  to  us  of  which  we  did  not  think  very  much  when 
they  were  uttered,  but  great  with  meaning  in  the  hour 
of  our  need,  or  how  often  things  which  we  thought  we 
had  understood  shone  with  unimagined  radiance  in  the 
light  of  a  present  experience. 

With  high  hopes  and  happy  ignorance,  we  went 
forth  into  an  uncertain  wilderness.  The  way  has  not 
always  been  smooth  or  the  path  straight.  Sometimes 
the  storm  clouds  have  gathered  about  us,  our  sky  has 
been  darkened,  and  the  songs  have  died  on  our  lips. 
But  the  lessons  you  used  to  teach  have  come  to  us  in 
the  hour  of  our  trouble.  "  The  right  hand  '^  has  been 
strong  to  uphold.  The  word  you  opened  with  us 
has  been  a  lamp  to  our  feet.  The  revealed  love  has 
restored  our  joy. 

We,  daughters  of  this  seminary,  utter  to-day  our 
earnest  appreciation  of  those  principles  of  education, 
first  expressed  by  Miss  Lyon  in  Mt.  Holyoke  Sem- 
inary, so  faithfully  reproduced  by  those  of  like  spirit 
and  purpose  in  this  western  school.  If,  in  the  words 
of  another,  '^  nobler  and  loftier  considerations  drawn 
from  the  daylight  of  eternity  rather  than  the  twilight 
of  time,  have  been  substituted  for  worldly,  narrow 
and  selfish  motives,  in  any  of  our  lives/^  we  owe 
it,  under  God,  to  the  sacred,  helpful  influences  which 
he  placed  about  us  in  our  school  life  as  well  as  else- 
Tv^here.  If  we  have  been  able  or  shall  be  able  to  ren- 
der any  service  to  the  master,  it  is  right  while  we  give 
all  glory  to  him  that  we  should  remember  the  instru- 
mentalities he  has  used  for  our  training. 

Perhaps  no  company  of  Alumnse  ever  came  together 
on  a  twentv-fifth  anniversary  under  circumstances  so 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  39 

calculated  to  stir  every  emotion  of  love,  gratitude, 
joy,  as  do  we.  As  we  have  indicated,  the  history  of 
our  school  life  is  a  very  precious  history.  It  was 
bright  in  passing — it  is  full  of  sacred  memories. 

The  history  of  this  seminary,  so  wonderful  in  the 
trials  through  which  it  has  passed ;  so  more  than 
wonderful  in  the  way  that  God  has  borne  it  through 
is  such  as  to  move  us  very  deeply.  As  we  entered 
the  reception  room  and  glanced  above  the  dear  faces 
about  us,  we  caught  the  words  upon  the  wall :  "  The 
Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us,  whereof  we  are 
glad."  It  is  not  strange  perhaps,  that  in  that  first 
moment  we  made  the  words  ours  rather  than  yours. 
Y/e  had  gone  out  girls  with  our  hopes  and  purposes 
and  plans  ;  we  had  come  back ;  the  secret  of  the  years 
was  with  us  and  God,  and  we  were  glad.  But  we 
transferred  the  words  again,  for  they  are  yours.  We 
take  them  for  your  words  to  your  returning  daughters, 
condensing  thus  into  one  brief  sentence  with  which  to 
greet  us,  the  full  history  of  the  twenty-five  years. 
The  Lord  hath  done  great  things.  Our  own  experi- 
ence here  confirms  this  testimony.  As  we  listen  to- 
day to  some  chapters  from  the  story  of  these  years  we 
would,  as  do  you,  remember  that  all  is  of  the  Lord. 

Knowing  something  of  the  history  of  our  Alma 
Mater,  we  are  reminded  only  incidentally  of  the 
changes  that  have  taken  place  here.  Through  the 
two-fold  trial  by  fire  she  has  passed  unscathed,  ren- 
dered intact  by  that  which  makes  us  immortal  too — 
God  within.  Home  is  not  the  enclosing  walls  but 
ever  the  pervading  life.  The  larger,  fairer  group  of 
trees  upon  the  lawn,  though  they  bear  little  resem- 


40  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

blance  to  the  slender  sappliiigs  some  of  us  remember, 
are  the  same  to  us.  So  far  as  all  dear  associations  are 
concerned  we  look  up  through  the  same  leaves  to  the 
same  sky,  listening  to  the  same  tuneful  birds,  while 
the  same  rustling  hints  stir  the  same  thoughts  within 
us.  It  is  needless  to  tell  us  that  generations  of  leaves 
and  birds  have  come  and  gone ;  that  these  are  not  the 
same  walls  from  which  we  went  forth,  or  these  the 
teachers  who  led  us  in  pleasant  paths.  Sisters  of  to- 
day, we  are  appropriating  all  that  is  yours.  We  can 
not  help  it.  We  see  the  changes  but  we  can  not  feel 
them.  A  mother^s  face  is  the  same  dear  face,  though 
the  changing  years  with  their  sorrows  and  joys,  their 
cares  and  deeper  experience  have  furrowed  new  lines, 
softened  the  smile,  quieted  the  expression,  illumined 
it  with  new  light.  We  come  back  as  daughters,  and 
it  is  one  element  of  our  deep  joy,  that  as  daughters  we 
are  at  home.  ^^  Though  there  are  younger  children, 
the  mother  has  kept  our  own  place  for  us  still. '^ 

We  can  not  make  our  Alma  Mater  entirely  imper- 
sonal to-day.  Eeading  our  own  hearts,  we  know  that 
this  home  coming  could  not  be  the  same  to  us,  if  an- 
other hand  was  extended  to  us  in  greeting,  or  another 
voice  bade  us  welcome. 

Dear  Miss  Peabody,  we  come  back  as  your  daugh- 
ters, if  you  will  call  us  such,  grateful  and  glad  beyond 
telling,  in  the  great  mercy  of  our  father  who  has 
spared  you  to  us  through  all  these  years,  and  who  lets 
us  thus  recognize  your  work  for  the  seminary,  for  us, 
for  God  through  us.  We  read  the  secret  of  these 
twenty-five  years  of  continued  labor,  in  the  beautiful 
motto  in  your  own  room :  '^  Hitherto   hath  the   Lord 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  41 

helped  us.^^  It  grows  pregnant  with  meaning,  when 
we  remember  not  only  the  recurring  duties  and  mul- 
tiplied cares  which  come  upon  us  daily,  but  the  trials 
through  which  this  seminary  has  passed,  bringing  upon 
you  such  burden,  and  demanding  of  you  the  exercise 
of  such  patience,  faith,  grace,  and  wisdom.  Glad 
ascriptions  be  to  him  who  hath  helped  hitherto. 

We  know,  my  sisters,  that  we  stand  on  sacred 
ground ;  that  this  is  a  day  of  sacred  privilege.  A 
marked  day  it  must  be,  not  only  in  the  history  of  this 
seminary,  but  in  our  individual  history  as  well.  We 
know  that  about  this  day  and  this  home  coming,  much 
earnest  prayer  has  centered.  Do  we  not  know  also 
that  in  answer  to  those  prayers  there  is  a  waiting 
blessing  for  us  here  ?  May  God  help  us  each  to  hear 
his  word  to  us  to-day,  and  whether  he  says ;  ''  Come 
closer,  my  child — come  up  higher  ;  "  "  Rest,  weary 
one,  cast  thy  care  upon  him  who  careth  ;  ^^  "  Lay  down 
thy  burden,  trust  thy  father^s  love  and  tenderness  ;^^ — 
may  we  have  grace  to  say,  ^^Yea  Lord,  thy  servant  hear- 
eth.^^  Kneeling  in  this  consecrated  place — perhaps  in 
the  very  spot  where  Jesus  first  said  to  us,  ^'  Go  in  peace, 
thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee,'^ — with  new  and  entire  sur- 
render, may  we  find  that  which  God  waits  to  give  us 
each,  when  we  put  our  ways  into  his  keeping  and 
enter  into  his  plan. 

Dear  younger  sisters,  who  so  soon  join  our  number,  or 
who  linger  yet  longer  at  the  mother's  feet,  we  have  mes- 
sage for  you  to-day.  First,  we  would  assure  you  of  our 
hearty  interest  and  love,  and  express  our  appreciation 
of  the  part  which  you  have  taken  and  are  taking  in 
this  perfect  welcome.     We  know  what  dependence  has 


42  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

been  placed  upon  you  in  the  crowded  days  of  prepara- 
tion. We  know  that  you  have  stood  faithfully  at  the 
side  of  your  teachers,  to  whom,  as  to  you,  we  owe  so 
much  with  cheerful  hearts  and  willing  hands  and  feet. 
Your  cordial,  graceful  welcome,  which  is  a  large  part 
of  the  mother's  very  own,  is  exceedingly  precious. 

You  are  knowing  in  these  days  the  joy  of  unselfish 
service  prompted  by  love.  It  is  that,  and  only  that, 
the  master  asks  of  you.  We  bring  his  message  to  you 
from  the  outside  world  whence  we  are  come.  ^^  The 
master  hath  need  of  you,"  is  the  word  your  elder  sis- 
ters bring. 

He  needs  you  in  the  quiet  home  places  to  which 
many  of  you  will  go,  to  bear  witness  for  him  you  pro- 
fess to  '^  follow  as  dear  children,'^  by  your  simple, 
reverent,  unselfish,  joyous,  sincere  lives. 

The  field  is  the  world,  and  everywhere  the  master 
needs  you  as  his  messenger.  Our  dear  sisters  who 
have  gone  to  the  dark,  distant  nations,  emphasize  by 
their  absence  to-day,  the  story  of  the  world's  great 
need. 

The  master  hath  need  of  us  all.  To  us  can  never 
come  the  peace  of  ignorance.  He  calls  us  to  noble 
work.  His  constraining  love  is  upon  us.  "  Be  not 
conformed,''  my  sisters,  "to  this  world ;  but  be  ye  trans- 
formed by  the  renewing  of  your  mind,  that  you  may 
prove  what  is  that  good,  and  acceptable,  and  perfect 
will  of  God." 

Birthdays  are  memory  days,  but  birthdays  are  also 
hope  days.  At  each  completed  cycle  we  look  back, 
but  do  we  not  also  look  forward  ? 

After  the  violets,  the  roses;  the  fruit  follows  the 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  43 

blossom,  and  the  flower  and  fruit  culminating  in  glad 
rich  harvest  time,  are  succeeded  by  richer  fields  of 
bloom  and  richer  harvest  seasons. 

We  rejoice  to-day  in  a  bright  future  for  our  Alma 
Mater,  as  we  crown  her  with  birthday  laurels-  and 
smile  with  her  in  songs  of  glad  thanksgiving.  We 
link  a  beautiful  past  with  a  more  beautiful  future. 
We  see  no  age,  no  decadence,  but  fuller  vigor,  tested 
powers,  stronger  assurance  in  unfailing  promises.  The 
outlook  is  all  radiant  with  hope.  "  They  shall  renew 
their  strength  who  wait  upon  the  Lord.^^  Those  who 
come  after  shall  see  that  which  we  have  not  seen. 
When  we  come  up  to  our  Zion,  after  another  twenty- 
five  years,  there  will  be  not  only  added  voices  in  our 
praise  chorus,  but  a  richer  song,  for  the  years  of  the 
Lord^s  right  hand  will  have  been  multiplied. 

As  daughters  we  are  grateful  for  the  beautiful  past ; 
we  are  glad  in  the  perfect  present;  we  rejoice  in  the 
halo  of  rich  promise,  through  which  we  look  into  the 
future.  Sharing  in  the  lull  joy  of  this  anniversary 
day,  we  are  asking  that  more  and  more  our  responsi- 
bility as  daughters  may  be  laid  upon  us,  and  that  in 
loving  gratitude  and  loyal  fidelity  we  may  be  able 
always  to  stand  helpfully  by  the  side  of  our  Alma 
Mater. 

At  the  close  of  Miss  Smithes  address.  Miss  Peabody 
arose,  the  intensity  of  this  supreme  moment  lighting 
up  her  face,  as  though  the  final  hour  had  come  in 
which  to  say,  ^^  Here  am  I,  and  the  children  whom 
thou  hast  given  me,'^  and  said,  amid  a  hush  profound  : 


44  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Fathees  and  Brethren  : 

Gentlemen  of  the  Board  of  Trustees:  An  occasion 
of  more  than  ordinary  interest  brings  you  here  to- 
day. You  have  come  together  "  To  give  thanks  unto 
the  Lord,  and  remember  his  marvellous  works  that 
he  hath  done,  his  wonders  and  the  judgments  of  his 
mouth,"  as  well  as  to  talk  of  all  his  gracious  dealings 
and  make  known  his  faithfulness  to  all  generations. 
More  wonderful  displays  of  the  presence  and  power 
of  God  to  deliver  and  save  in  the  hour  of  peril,  or 
more  marked  illustrations  of  his  tenderness  and  fidelity 
to  his  word,  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  in  the  annals 
of  history,  sacred  or  profane,  than  the  records  of  this 
institution  exhibit,  during  the  twenty-five  years  of  its 
existence.  Only  two  of  your  present  number  have 
been  identified  with  the  work  during  the  whole  period 
which  we  have  come  together  to  review. 

Some  who  have  toiled  with  us  in  love  and  labors 
most  abundant,  have  entered  into  rest,  and  we  remem- 
ber them  gratefully  to-day.  Among  these  mighty 
men  of  valor  we  wish  reverently  to  speak  the  names 
of  Tichenor,  Allen,  Fisher,  Hills,  Ells  and  Kumler, 
Spencer  and  Van  Bergen,  Shuey  and  Moores,  Cheever 
and  Tweed  and  Joseph  S.  McCord  and  Prof  Caleb 
Mills.     These  all  died  in  the  faith. 

On  the  night  of  January  14,  1860,  and  again  on 
April  7,  1871,  our  building  was  destroyed  by  fire 
without  the  loss  of  a  single  life.  On  May  6,  1864, 
our  school  was  scattered  by  a  fearful  pestilence,  in 
which  lives  most  precious  passed  from  our  sight,  enter- 
ing upon  the  life  eternal,  assuring  us  as  they  went, 
"  Remember,  I  will  be  waiting  for  you." 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  45 

On  the  29th  of  February,  1868,  a  burglar  was  shot 
in  our  building,  and  the  tragic  midnight  scene  was  full 
of  abiding  lesson's.  The  civil  war  from  ^60  to  ^65, 
with  its  perils  and  excitements,  has  its  place  in  our 
history.  Three  great  commercial  crises,  with  their 
distractions  and  fears,  have  also  been  experienced. 
We  still  live.  Twenty-five  years  the  Lord  God  has 
been  with  us,  and  of  temporal  and  spiritual  blessings 
we  have  lacked  nothing. 

Children  beloved  and  longed  for,  my  joy  and  crown, 
now  do  I  live  because  ye  stand  fast.  You  have  heard 
how  glad  we  are  to  have  you  come  home,  and  you 
have  told  us  how  happy  it  makes  you  to  be  again 
folded  to  the  heart  of  Alma  Mater. 

We  wish  to-day  to  review  with  you  the  memories 
of  the  past  in  which  you  had  such  an  active  part.  As 
we  bring  together  the  parts  (which  you  will  identify 
as  scraps  of  your  own  personal  experience)  into  the 
completed  mosaic  of  the  last  quarter  of  a  century — as 
we  place  each  part  in  its  true  relation  to  each  other 
and  to  the  whole,  the  dark  as  well  as  the  bright,  we 
shall  find  that  each,  shapeless  and  insignificant  as  it 
seemed  at  the  time,  is  necessary  to  the  completed 
design,  the  bringing  out  the  face  of  the  great  artist, 
"  The  Eose  of  Sharon  ''  and  ''  The  Lily  of  the  Valley.'^ 
As  you  linger  about  the  cradle  of  our  beloved  semi- 
nary this  morning,  some  of  you  will  remember  with 
me  that  a  little  cradle  in  a  private  home  once  held 
close  relations  to  it,  indeed  prior  obligations  by  a  few 
months,  which  came  near  at  one  time  turning  the 
scales  in  its  favor.  But  ^^  follow  me'^  involves  for- 
forsaking,  losing,  perishing,  and  also  finding,  saving 


46  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

and  gathering  fruit  an  hundred  told.  Sacrifice  as  an 
element  was  early  introduced,  and  has  run  like  a 
thread  through  the  whole  history  of  our  school.  The 
sharp  experiences,  some  of  them  very  sharp,  have 
been  freighted  with  the  richest  blessings  and  intensify 
the  joys  of  the  present  hour. 

Children,  Alma  Mater  has  kept  a  diary  of  her  little 
ones,  sending  a  copy  every  year  to  the  old  home 
(Holyoke)  and  to  the  far-away  relatives,  preserving 
one  to  show  to  her  children  when  they  were  grown 
up  and  should  come  home,  after  having  had  some  ex- 
periences of  the  world.  Search  has  been  made  in  the 
house  of  the  rolls,  and  the  first  record  therein  written 
will  now  be  read. 


THE  SEMINAEY  JOURNAL. 


CHAPTER  I. 


READ   BY   MISS   DORA   PHELPS. 


The  first  entry  in  the  diary  before  alluded  to  is 
made  on  October  9,  1855,  and  runs  thus : 

"The  salutations  of  the  Western  Female  Seminary 
to  her  far-off  sister,  Holyoke. 

To  our  sisters  who  are  still  in  the  old  hive  we  are  sure 
that  we  need  no  introduction.  They  are  well  aware 
that  there  have  long  been  signs  of  swarming;  and 
months  ago,  they  learned  that  western  enterprise  and 
benevolence  had  undertaken  to  provide  a  home  for 
the  new  colony.  The  bees  are  safely  hived  ;  and  busy 
as  ev^r,  they  strive  to  "  improve  each  shining  hour.^^ 
Could  you  look  in,  this  pleasant  morning,  we  know 
you  would  congratulate  us  upon  our  success. 

To  our  dear  missionary  friends,  who  have  just  heard 
perhaps  for  the  first  time,  the  name  of  the  Western 
Female  Seminary,  we  must  say  a  word  concerning 
our  past  history  and  present  prospects.  This  school 
is  a  young  sister  of  Holyoke ;  scarcely  out  of  frock 
and  pinafore,  to  be  sure,  but  a  very  promising  child 


48  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

for  all  that.  She  already  shows  a  most  striking  and 
daily  increasing  resemblance  to  her  eastern  sister,  and 
bids  fair  to  grow  in  favor  with  God  and  man.  Mary 
Lyon  rests  from  her  labors,  but  her  works  follow  her. 
In  this  new  institution,  not  less  truly  than  at  Holyoke, 
we  trust  her  influence  will  live  for  years  to  come.  If 
from  her  blessed  home  she  sometimes  looks  down 
upon  the  fruits  of  her  earthly  labors,  we  know  that 
among  them  all  she  esteems  this  seminary  not  the 
least.  We  think  that  to  her,  as  well  as  to  us,  it  must 
seem  but  the  duplicate  of  that  which  was  the  direct 
offspring  of  her  toils  and  prayers.  Every  day  we  find 
ourselves  forgetting  that  our  school  is  not  Holyoke 
itself.  All  the  arrangements  of  the  family  and  school 
are  the  same  ;  many  of  the  public  rooms  have  the 
same  names  with  yours ;  the  young  ladies'  rooms  and 
their  furniture — the  domestic  and  dining  halls,  the 
washroom — and  in  short  everything,  bears  a  decided 
resemblance  to  the  Holyoke  patterns.  From  the  time 
of  rising  in  the  morning  until  the  hour  for  retiring  at 
night,  our  bells  ring  (difference  of  longitude  excepted), 
simultaneously  with  yours,  and  for  precisely  the  same 
purposes.  Our  family  devotions,  our  sections  and 
general  exercises  and  our  recess  meetings,  are  just  the 
same.  But  you  will  perceive  for  yourselves  the  re- 
semblance, in  the  course  of  the  following  pages. 

Our  young  ladies  assembled  for  the  first  time  on 
Wednesday,  September  19,  1855.  We  think  them  a 
very  fine  set  of  girls,  from  all  we  have  yet  seen  of 
them.  A  few  are  more  youthful  than  we  ever  see  at 
Mt.  Holyoke  Seminary,  yet  upon  the  whole  there  is 
no  marked   difference  in  maturity   of  character.     In 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  49 

this  Western  country  fill  things  have  an  earlier  and 
more  rapid  development  than  in  New  England,  which 
is  probably  the  reason  y^hj  our  young  ladies  do  not 
seem  more  juvenile  than  yours. 

On  Thursday  Septe mber  20,  at  two  p.  m.  ,  the  friends 
and  patrons  of  the  institution,  together  with  the 
trustees,  teachers  and  pupils,  assembled  in  the  sem- 
inary hall,  for  the  dedicatory  services.  The  parlors 
adjoining,  as  well  as  the  hall  itself,  were  crowded 
with  interested  listeners. 

Prof.  Milton  Sayler,  of  Cincinnati,  made  a  very  in- 
teresting address  to  the  teachers  and  pupils,  and  Dr. 
Allen,  of  Lane  Seminary,  offered  the  dedicatory 
prayer. 

The  following  hymn  composed  for  the  occasion  by 
Eev.  Thomas  Spencer,  was  sung  by  the  school. 

We  give  this  house,  oh,  God !  to  thee. 

Be  thine  each  beam,  and  brick,  and  stone ; 
These  fields  and  groves,  each  flower  and  tree,. 

Accept  and  call  them  all  thine  own. 

These  rooms  for  toil  or  rest,  these  halls ; 

This  chapel  built  for  praise  and  prayer. 
And  all  contained  within  these  walls. 

Be  the  dear  objects  of  thy  care. 

On  this  fair  spot  now  fix  thine  eyes. 
And  nevermore  withdraw  thy  sights 

While  seasons  roll  and  stars  shall  rise, 
This  place  find  favor  in  thy  sight. 

Here  may  the  youthful  vow  be  made. 

To  live  for  thee  and  thee  alone ; 
These  vows  in  works  of  love  be  paid, 

In  prayers  and  toils  which  thou  wilt  own. 


50  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Here  may  a  fountain  spring  to-day, 

To  bless  this  world  of  sin  and  guilt, 
And  flow  till  earth  shall  pass  away, 

And  the  new  heaven  and  eaHh  he  built. 

You  will  readily  understand  that  our  domestic 
department  must  have  been  kept  in  busy  operation 
during  those  first  days,  to  provide  for  the  one  hnndred 
and  fifty  young  ladies  who  had  almost  simultaneously 
arrived,  together  with  many  of  their  parents,  some  of 
whom  remained  a  few  days  to  see  our  experiment 
fairly  tried.  There  were,  of  course,  no  ''  old  scholars'^ 
already  acquainted  with  the  routine  of  seminary  house- 
keeping, to  lighten  our  burdens  by  their  willing  and 
efficient  aid.  But  the  teachers  could  furnish  hands 
as  well  as  heads,  and  so,  with  the  additional  help  for  a 
few  days  of  a  regularly  trained  baker,  we  did  very 
well."  To  be  sure,  our  cooking  range  was  scarcely 
ffnished,  and  none  of  its  furniture,  save  two  dripping- 
pans  and  a  small  brass  kettle,  had  arrived.  But 
thanks  to  native  Yankee  ingenuity  and  Holyoke  train- 
ing in  logic  and  mathematics,  we  succeeded  famously 
until  the  other  utensils  arrived,  which  was  about  a 
week.  We  can  assure  you  it  required  some  little  calcu- 
lation to  solve  such  little  problems  as  the  following : 
^'  Given  two  dripping-pans  and  a  brass  kettle ;  it  is 
required  to  cook  meat  and  vegetables  for  one  hundred 
and  fifty."  Never  before  did  we  appreciate  the  capa- 
bilities of  dripping-pans.  In  the  morning  they  served 
in  the  preparation  of  the  meat,  toast,  or  griddle  cakes, 
whichever  it  might  happen  to  be ;  at  noon  our  meat 
was  roasted  or  fried  and  the  gravy  made  in  them,  and 
for  supper  these  self-same  dripping-pans  cooked  the 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  51 

fruit.  Meantime,  by  ^'taking  time  by  the  forelock/' 
the  brass  kettle  served  for  boiling  our  potatoes  for 
dinner,  and  at  other  times  was  useful  in  making  yeast. 

Our  young  ladies  have  been  as  ready  as  we  could 
desire  to  aid  in  our  domestic  operations.  The  con- 
trary had  been  predicted  with  reference  to  these 
Western  girls,  but  we  think  without  reason.  Cer- 
tainly we  have  never  known  the  wheels  to  run  more 
smoothly  at  Holyoke,  in  the  beginning  of  a  year,  than 
ours  have  done.  We  have  much  reason  for  gratitude 
that  this  peculiar  feature  of  Holyoke  arrangements 
has  been  so  easily  and  successfully  introduced. 

On  the  first  Sabbath  of  the  term  nearly  all  of  our 
young  ladies  attended  morning  service  at  the  village 
church,  which  is  nearly  a  mile  and  a  half  distant. 
They  walked,  of  course,  as  there  was  no  other  way  of 
going.  In  the  afternoon  they  studied  their  Bible  les- 
sons, and  in  the  evening  we  had  the  meetings  at  home. 
We  were  glad  to  find  that  nearly  two-thirds  of  the 
young  ladies  are  professing  Christians. 

The  examinations  had  been  commenced  on  the  day 
after  the  dedication.  You  would  have  smiled  to  see 
our  girls  sitting  solitarily  in  the  seminary  hall,  their 
arithmetics  piled  up  on  the  platform,  and  their  eyes 
fixed  on  those  self-same,  tear-stained  questions, 
whereon  we  ourselves  once  desparingly  gazed.  We 
have  a  new  edition  of  them  now,  but  the  first  candi- 
dates were  supplied  with  the  identical  Holyoke  copies. 
Many  of  the  young  ladies  have  been  very  successful 
in  their  examinations,  others  are  reviewing  and  we 
hope  all  will  have  finished  the  preparatory  studies 
before  many  weeks. 


miVERSlTY  OF 
'LLfNOIS  LIBRARY 


52  WESTERN'  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Most  of  you  are  doubtless  aware  that  the  town  of 
Oxford,  like  its  illustrious  English  namesake,  has  a 
university,  not  to  mention  divers  seminaries  and 
schools  of  lower  grade.  The  knowledge  of  this  cir- 
cumstance will  have  led  you  to  anticipate  some  per- 
plexing qjjUestions  which  came  before  us  during  the 
first  days  of  the  term.  It  was  not  very  difficult  to 
foresee  that  if  there  should  be  unrestricted  social  inter- 
course between  our  young  ladies  and  the  students  of 
Miami  University,  little  time  or  thought  would  be 
bestowed  on  moral  or  intellectual  improvement.  But 
as  some  of  our  pupils  had  relatives  in  college  here,  it 
was  arranged  that  all  such  should  be  at  liberty  to  call. 
The  first  recreation  day,  however,  caused  us  to  recon- 
sider that  decision.  One  young  gentleman  called  for 
no  less  than  ^^  six  cousins/^  and  we  were  speedily  con- 
vinced that  consanguinities  would  multiply  to  an 
astonishing  extent,  under  such  a  regulation. 

We  have  toid  you  of  our  labors  and  our  success 
during  these  first  weeks  of  the  school ;  it  remains  to 
speak  of  our  trials.  We  must  tell  of  a  sick-room,  a 
death-bed,  a  funeral.  One  young  lady  came  to  us 
with  disease  upon  her,  and  in  two  short  weeks  her 
career  in  the  seminary  w^s  ended  by  death.  We  have 
been  chastened,  but  it  w^s  by  a  father's  hand.  May 
it  yield  the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness  ! 

We  have  not  yet  told  you  about  our  pleasant  western 
home,  and  we  are  rather  reluctant  to  attempt  a  descrip- 
tion, lest  we  should  fail  of  making  it  seem  as  delightful 
to  you  as  it  does  to  us.  However,  if  you  do  not  like 
our  picture,  we  can  invite  you  to  come  and  see  for 
yourselves ;  and  we  know  half  a  glimpse  would  make 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNINERSARY.  53 

you  almost  envy  us.  At  present  we  must  ask  you  just 
to  imagine  yourselves  on  the  way  from  Hamilton  to 
Oxford  in  an  old-fashioned  coach-and-four,  with 
abundant  leisure  to  look  about  you,  while  the  horses 
walk  up  the  long  hills.  The  scenery  is  so  like  New 
England  that  you  fancy  you  are  almost  home,  and  you 
find  yourself  watching  for  the  familiar  outline  of  the 
mountain  range  which  the  next  turn  of  the  road  must 
bring  to  view.  The  snug  farm-houses  scattered 
here  and  there  among  the  hills,  whose  ample  barns 
bespeak  well-tilled  fields ;  the  tasteful  cottages  with 
their  neat  door-yards  and  flower-gardens ;  the  thrifty 
orchards  and  pleasant  meadows;  in  short,  everything 
you  see  looks  so  natural  that  you  would  scarcely  hesi- 
tate to  say  that  you  had  seen  it  a  hundred  times  before. 
Did  you  notice  the  large  stone-colored  edifice  on 
the  right,  whose  top  was  just  now  visible  above  the 
tree?  When  the  coach  stops  at  yonder  white  gate 
you  will  have  a  front  view  of  it,  and  we  would  bespeak 
your  special  attention,  for  it  is  the  Western  Female 
Seminary.  As  you  walk  along  the  winding  carriage 
drive,  and  approach  the  little  bridge  at  the  foot  of  the 
orchard,  you  observe  that  the  building  is  of  an  oblong 
form,  fronting  west,  102x76  feet  on  the  ground,  and 
five  stories  high.  Each  story  has  a  balcony  running 
about  two-thirds  the  length  of  the  front,  supported  by 
slender  iron  pillars,  and  surrounded  by  an  ornamental 
iron  balustrade. 

Monday,  February  4. — Last  evening  we  held  our 
first "  monthly  concert.^^  Our  distance  from  town  pre- 
vents our  observing  it  in  connection  with  the  church 
where  we  worship,  and  hereafter  we  hope  to  have  our 


,54  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

missionary  meeting  at  home,  on  the  first  Sabbath 
evening  of  each  month.  We  must  tell  you  about  our 
first  one,  for  it  was  to  us  an  interesting  occasion.  At 
half-past  seven,  our  usual  hour  for  evening  service,  we 
all  met  in  the  seminary  hall.  Miss  Peabody  read  the 
familiar  hymn,  ^'  From  Greenland's  Icy  Mountains,'' 
after  singing  which  we  united  in  prayer.  Miss  Pea- 
body  then  made  a  very  few  remarks  respecting  the 
history  of  missions,  particularly  in  this  country,  pre- 
paratory to  an  account  of  the  origin  of  the  special 
interest  in  missions  at  Mt.  Holyoke.  She  said  she 
believed  Miss  Fiske  was  the  first  missionary  who  went 
out  from  that  institution,  and  that  her  consecration  to 
that  work  was  the  means  of  awakening  a  deeper  and 
more  lasting  attachment  to  it  than  had  been  previously 
felt  by  the  pupils  at  the  seminary.  A  brief  note 
addressed  by  Miss  Fiske  to  Dr.  Anderson,  offering 
herself  to  the  board,  was  then  read,  as  also  a  post- 
script added  by  Miss  Lyon,  and  another  letter  from 
Miss  L.  on  the  same  occasion.  There  was  also  a  letter 
written  by  Miss  Fiske,  while  at  sea,  to  Miss  Whitman, 
and  one  at  a  later  period  of  the  voyage  addressed  to 
her  section.  Our  young  ladies  listened  with  much 
interest  to  this  correspondence,  and  we  trust  it  will  do 
them  good.  We  long  to  see  them  so  filled  with  love 
to  Christ  that  they  will  joyfully  undertake  any  labor 
to  which  he  may  call  them,  however  self-denying  or 
difficult.  There  has  not  been  as  much  religious  in- 
terest among  us  for  a  few  weeks  past  as  there  was  at 
the  close  of  last  term,  but  there  are  at  present  some 
encouraging  indications,  and  we  hope  the  holy  spirit 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  55 

may  visit  us  yet  again.     About  twenty-five  have  pro- 
fessed faith  in  Christ. 

May  31. — Our  household  has,  for  some  weeks  past, 
been  favored  with  the  society  of  a  very  interesting  guest, 
whose  like  it  would  be  hard  to  find  in  any  institution 
of  learning,  not  excepting  Holyoke  itself.  Allow  us 
to  present  to  you  ^^  our  baby  ! ''  Master  Henry  Green- 
wood Peabody,  son  of  Rev.  Charles  Peabody,  of  St. 
Louis,  who  has  been  an  inmate  of  the  seminary  since 
the  commencement  of  this  term. 

He  is  a  nephew  of  our  principal.  She  was  called 
from  the  care  of  this  motherless  little  one,  whom  she 
had  received  from  his  dying  mother's  hands,  to  assume 
charge  of  .this  seminary,  and  it  cost  her  a  severe 
struggle  to  relinquish  the  precious  little  trust.  He  is 
accompanied  by  his  excellent  aunt.  Miss  Eliza  Pea- 
body, and  is  decidedly  the  most  important  personage 
among  us. 

At  every  meal  time  Miss  Peabody^s  door  is  besieged 
by  a  crowd  of  eager  competitors  for  the  privilege  of 
tending  the  baby  while  the  rest  are  at  table.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  decide  among  so  many  earnest 
petitioners,  were  it  not  that  some  one  generally  steps 
forth,  looking  very  confident  and  happy,  and  reminds 
Miss  Peabody  that  the  baby  was  promised  to  her  some 
two  days  ago.  So  the  successful  candidate  appropri- 
ates Master  Henry,  and  the  unsuccessful  ones  comfort 
themselves  with  the  hope  that  they  shall  be  more  for- 
tunate next  time.  The  young  gentleman,  having 
lately  entered  upon  his  second  year,  is  now  busily  en- 
gaged in  acquiring  the  art  of  walking,  and  with  so 
many  assiduous  instructors  he  makes  rapid  progress. 


56  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

We  have  high  authority  for  saying,  '^  A  babe  in    a 
house  is  a  well-spring  of  pleasure/^ 

July  5. — The  "well-spring  ol  pleasure''  above 
named  has  vanished  from  our  household.  Baby  Henry 
left  us  two  or  three  weeks  since,  amid  the  universal 
regrets  of  the  family.  Some  of  the  young  ladies, 
much  to  our  amusement,  eagerly  appropriated  divers 
little  worn  out  shoes  as  relics  of  their  baby  friend, 
and  appeared  determined  to  cherish  them  as  sacredly 
as  would  a  papist  the  image  of  his  patron  saint. 

The  closing  exercises  of  the  first  year  took  place  in 
the  pleasant  grove  in  the  rear  of  the  seminary,  on  the 
17th  of  July,  1856.  The  address  was  delivered  by 
Dr.  Samuel  Fisher,  who  chose  for  his  subject :  John 
Calvin  and  John  Wesley.  This  was  the  first  of  many 
favors  received  from  Dr.  Fisher.  He  was  long  an 
honored  trustee  of  our  seminary  and  made  us  monthly 
visits,  which  are  remembered  with  pleasure  and  grati- 
tude. 

And  now  we  must  close  the  history  of  our  first  year. 
It  has  had  its  trials,  but  far  greater  and  more  numer- 
ous have  been  its  blessings.  It  has  been  to  us  a  year 
of  toil,  and  yet  so  delightful  that  we  would  not  desire 
a  sweeter  spot  in  all  the  great  field,  wherein  we  might 
labor.  Its  results  are  yet  undeveloped  in  their  bear- 
ings on  the  future,  but  it  is  enough  to  know  that  our 
"labor  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord.'' 

This  paper  was  followed  by  a  vocal  solo,  "  Mine  it 
is  at  Midnight  Hour,"  by  Miss  Kate  Timberman,  of 
the  senior  class. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  57 

CHAPTEE  11. 

READ  BY  MAGGIE  RONAN. 

In  the  journal  for  1856,  after  the  account  of  the 
coming  together  of  teachers  and  scholars  at  the  close 
of  vacation,  we  find  the  following  allusion  to  the  first 
monthly  concert :  "  On  the  first  Sabbath  in  October 
occurred  our  monthly  concert,  and  it  was  our  happi- 
ness to  have  a  letter  from  Miss  Fidelia  Fiske  to  read 
to  the  young  ladies.  Those  of  us  who  remember  the 
joy  of  receiving  the  first  letter  through  the  postoffice, 
written  to  our  own  selves,  with  our  name  on  the  out- 
side, could  recognize  something  of  the  old  emotion  in 
the  pleasure  with  which  we  all  listened  to  this  first 
missionary  letter  which  had  been  addressed  to  our 
school.  Nor  was  it  the  mere  transient  feeling  of  grat- 
ification which  a  letter  from  a  far  country  would 
naturally  awaken.  That  it  was  something  more  deep 
and  holy,  the  angel  which  ministers  at  the  golden 
altar  which  is  before  the  throne  can  witness.  Our 
hearts  are  touched  that  the  daughters  of  a  heathen 
land  have  prayed  for  us.  We  are  strengthened  by 
expressions  of  sympathy  and  encouragement  from  one 
who  has  long  known  and  loved  our  master,  while  en- 
gaged in  his  most  difficult  service.^' 

October  24. — We  had  the  pleasure  yesterday  of 
welcoming  back  Miss  Golding  of  last  year,  now  Mrs. 
Kumler.  A  little  party  of  our  friends  were  with  us 
at  tea,  and  the  members  of  our  family  were  invited  to 
visit  with  them  in  the   evening.     Very  many  of  the 


58  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

young  ladies  seemed  exceedingly  happy  in  seeing 
again  a  teacher  whom  they  had  so  much  loved  and 
respected,  and  in  receiving  an  introduction  to  the  gen- 
tleman who  has  appropriated  her  as  his  own.  The 
gentleman  aforesaid  defended  himself  bravely  against 
their  accusations  of  robbery,  and  declared  that  if  he 
should  never  do  anything  worse  he  would  consider 
himself  happy.  Although  the  young  ladies  spent  but 
an  hour  with  us  in  the  parlors  and  seminary  hall,  they 
seemed  to  find  much  pleasure  in  that  brief  time ;  and 
it  was  very  gratifying  to  us  to  have  them  form  some 
acquaintance  with  the  good  friends  whom  we  have 
about  us,  and  feel  that  they  are  not  indifferently  looked 
upon  as  an  isolated  community,  but  that  they  are 
regarded  with  deep  interest.  We  are  truly  blessed 
in  the  sympathizing,  intelligent  and  efficient  friends 
whom  we  have  in  town.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Kumler  are 
to  enter  upon  home  missionary  work  in  Greenville, 
Ohio.  May  the  same  energetic,  self  forgetting  spirit 
which  ennobled  the  life  of  the  pupil  at  Mt.  Holyoke 
and  the  teacher  at  Oxford,  make  beautiful  and  holy 
the  coming  years  of  the  minister's  wife. 

A  recent  letter  from  one  of  our  trustees  tells  us  of 
a  munificent  bequest  from  one  of  whose  large-hearted 
piety  you  of  Mt.  Holyoke  have  occasion  to  know,  as 
well  as  we.  Mr.  Kingman,  of  Boston,  gives  us  one 
thousand  dollars  for  the  purpose  of  founding  a  schol- 
arship, which  shall  maintain  at  school  a  missionary's 
daughter  free  of  all  expense.  Perhaps  you  do  not 
know  that  the  pretty,  comfortable  room  reserved  for 
our  sick  was  fitted  up  by  the  generosity  of  Mrs.  King- 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  59 

man.     May  the  blessing  which  alone  maketh  rich  be 
ever  theirs. 

November  21 . — Yesterday  was  Thanksgiving  day. 
We  did  not  invite  much  company,  influenced  by  the 
very  practical  consideration  that  we  probably  should 
not  secure  it  if  we  did.  Everybody  best  loves  to  be 
at  home  on  that  day  of  all  days.  We  had  with  us  at 
dinner,  however,  our  pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Root,  Rev.  and 
Mrs.  Kumler  and  Mr.  Ells  with  his  family.  Is  it 
possible  that  you  have  been  so  long  acquainted  with 
our  school  and  do  not  know  Mr.  Ells  ?  Why,  he  is 
our  daily  benefactor.  Nothing  could  be  more  appro- 
priate than  that  he,  whose  presence  always  reminds  us 
of  an  occasion  of  devout  gratitude,  should  be  with  us 
on  Thanksgiving  day.  He  is  one  of  our  trustees  and 
superintendent  of  our  out-door  affairs.  It  is  he  who 
sees  that  we  have  the  wherewithal  for  our  daily  bread 
and  fire,  and  that  improvements  are  continually  going 
on  about  the  grounds  and  the  building.  He  never 
forgets,  never  neglects,  never  frets.  His  steady  effi- 
ciency is  put  forth  with  that  quiet,  kindly  manner, 
which  makes  his  life  no  less  a  moral  than  a  material 
blessing  to  us.  It  is  a  comfort  to  have  so  sensible, 
reliable  and  sympathizing  a  friend  ever  at  hand.  We 
were  very  glad  to  have  him,  his  pleasant  wife  and  two 
little  children  with  us  yesterday.  Thanksgiving 
would  hardly  seem  genuine  without  a  child  in  the 
house. 

January  6,  1857. — The  two  days  past  have  been 
blessed  ones  to  us.  The  house  has  been  pervaded  by 
a  quietness,  in  which  the  ''  still,  small  voice  '^  of  the 
spirit  has  been  distinctly  heard.     Much  fervent  prayer 


60  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

has  gone  up  to  God,  and  he  has  sent  an  answer  into 
our  souls.  The  prayer-meetings  throughout  the  day 
were  very  fully  attended,  and  we  trust  Christ  was  in 
the  midst.  In  the  afternoon  Miss  Peabody  met  in  the 
hall  those  who  are  not  Christians.  They  listened  with 
the  most  serious  attention  to  her  words,  and  at  the 
close  she  invited  those  who  desired  above  all  things 
to  seek  an  interest  in  Christ,  and  were  willing  to  have 
that  desire  known,  to  come  to  her  room  that  evening. 
We  believe  that  there  were  four  or  five  in  school  who 
would  gladly  accept  ^uch  an  invitation,  but  it  was  with 
grateful  surprise  that  Miss  Peabody  found  her  room 
jilled  at  evening.  Some  came,  doubtless,  from  the 
transient  excitement  of  sympathy,  but  others  were 
earnestly  inquiring  the  way  to  be  saved,  and  some 
were  beginning  to  indulge  a  trembling  hope  in  Christ. 
We  felt  that  we  could  not  have  such  a  day  pass  with- 
out the  seal  of  at  least  one  conversion.  Nor  did  God 
suffer  it  to  do  so.  One  for  whom  importunate  prayer 
has  been  offered,  and  who  has  passed  through  deep 
waters  to  find  a  savior,  did  lay  down  her  proud  heart 
that  night  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  broken  and  contrite. 
Oh !  may  the  holy  spirit  abide  with  us. 

Monday,  January  26. — We  had  the  happiness  yes- 
terday of  listening  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Allen,  of  Lane 
Seminary.  We  attended  morning  service  in  town,  and 
he  preached  to  us  in  the  hall  in  the  afternoon.  ^^The 
Lord  reigneth ;  let  the  earth  rejoice,"  was  the  morning 
text.  In  the  afternoon  he  dwelt  upon  that  most 
touching  of  all  our  savior's  gracious  sayings,  '^  Who- 
ever shall  do  the  will  of  my  father  in  heaven,  the 
same  is  my  brother  and  sister  and  mother. '^ 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  61 

It  is  a  great  thing  for  any  school  to  enjoy  the  earnest 
interest  of  a  materly  mind  and  warm,  Christian  heart 
like  Dr.  Allen's.  He  is  one  of  our  trustees  and  we 
hope  that  he  will  come  to  see  us  often. 

1857. 

Among  the  first  events  recorded  of  this  year  is  a 
little  incident  in  which  we  will  all  feel  interested, 
"  When  the  noon  coach  from  Hamilton  came  in  last 
Friday,  Miss  Peabody  stood  in  the  hall  to  meet  the 
arrivals,  as  usual.  After  the  old  scholars  had  received 
their  warm  welcome,  the  timorous  new  comers  drew 
near.  Each  received  a  kindly  word  and  look  to  make 
her  feel  that  she  had  at  least  one  friend  in  the  house  ; 
but  the  last  one  stood  demurely  waiting  with  her  thick 
veil  unlifted.  "  What  poor,  bashful  girl  is  that  ?  '^ 
thought  Miss  Peabody.  Hoping  to  relieve  her  em- 
barrassment, she  raised  her  veil,  saying,  "  Who  is 
this?''  In  a  moment  her  arms  were  thrown  around 
the  strange  new  scholar  with  the  glad  cry,  "  Emily 
Jessup !  "  Her  visit  was  a  very  short  one,  but  full  of 
pleasure  to  the  old  friends  who  had  known  and  loved 
her  at  Mt.  Holyoke,  and  to  the  new  ones  who  had 
only  heard  of  her  before." 

1858. 

In  1858  we  find  the  mention  of  our  first  mission- 
aries, Mrs.  Quick,  of  Ceylon,  who  was  a  member  of 
the  school  in  1856,  and  Miss  Mary  Spooner,  now  Mrs. 
Worcester,  who  found  her  field  of  labor  among  the 
Cherokees. 

Shortly  before  anniversgjy,  Miss  Fiske,  whose  name 


62  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

is  SO  well  known  in  all  the  churches,  visited  the  sem- 
inary. This  visit  was  a  great  treat  to  all  the  house- 
hold; our  beloved  missionary  bringing  direct  news 
from  far-away  Orooniah,  was  a  guest  whom  all  de- 
lighted to  honor.  She  remarked  that  our  western 
girls  reminded  her  of  her  Persian  girls  in  their  frank 
enthusiasm  and  naturalness  of  manner.  Her  extreme 
modesty  and  lack  of  self  consciousness  made  us  forget 
her  greatness,  while  she  talked  with  us  and  ate  with 
us,  but  when  she  had  gone  we  remembered  how  our 
hearts  had  burned  within  us,  while  she  talked ;  and 
we  felt  that  we  had  communed  with  one  like  unto  the 
son  of  man. 

1859. 

In  1859  two  more  were  added  to  the  list  of  mission- 
aries. Mrs.  Woodin,,  formerly  Miss  Utley,  a  teacher, 
sailed  in  the  fall  for  China,  and  Mrs.  Shedd,  Jenny 
Dawes,  of  the  Class  of  '58,  for  Persia.  We  find  in 
connection  with  the  mention  of  their  names  this  request 
recorded  by  the  journalist:  "We  ask  that  those  who 
love  the  seminary  will  pray  that  many  of  her  children 
may  be  messsengers  of  mercy  to  the  dark  places  of  the 
earth." 

Dr.  Perkins,  of  Persia,  visited  the  seminary  in  No- 
vember. He  left  behind  him  many  pleasant  memo- 
ries of  own  consecrated  life,  and  much  useful  and  in- 
teresting information  about  Oriental  customs  and  mis- 
sion work  among  the  Nestorians. 

The  new  year  of  1860  found  the  family  busily  pre- 
paring one  of  the  members  of  the  senior  class  to  sail 
in  February  for  Persia,  Miss  Harriet  Newell  Craw- 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  63 

ford.  A  visitor  to  Miss  Peabody's  room  would  have 
imagined  that  she  had  turned  seamstress.  The  click 
of  the  sewing  machine  was  heard  from  morning  until 
night,  and  scores  of  busy  fingers  were  preparing  work 
for  its  swift  needle. 

During  these  early  years  we  find  frequent  allusions 
to  pleasant  Christmas  gatherings,  Thanksgiving  fes- 
tivities, examinations  and  anniversary  days,  of  which 
we  can  not  take  time  for  special  mention.  Interesting 
lectures  are  also  referred  to :  A  course  in  Physiology, 
by  Dr.  Pea,  the  excellent  friend  and  family  physician 
of  the  seminary;  a  lecture  on  the  Life  and  Work  of 
Dr.  Thomas  Arnold,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Root ;  one  or  more 
on  Hygiene,  by  Dr.  Mussey,  of  Cincinnati,  who  did  not 
hesitate  to  use  his  eloquent  sarcasm  against  the  fash- 
ionable follies  of  the  day ;  lectures  by  Pev.  Mr.  Pice 
and  Pev.  F.  S.  McCabe.  Of  Dr.  Pea's  lectures  we 
find  a  more  extended  notice:  ^^ Three  days  in  the 
week  we  confront  the  grinning^ghastliness  of  humanity, 
disrobed  of  flesh  and  sinews.  On  one  side  hangs 
what  the  doctor  calls  ^  a  beautiful  French  skeleton/ 
where  a  heart  once  bounded,  whereon  grace,  perhaps, 
was  poured,  pitiable  relic  of  that  which  sang  and 
smiled,  danced  and  laughed.  On  the  other  side  hangs 
another  frame,  equipped  with  the  wonderful  tissue  of 
muscles,  nerves  and  blood  vessels.  But  the  muscles 
are  shrunken  and  varnished;  from  the  arteries  the 
wine  of  life  has  been  poured  out  and  red  lead  has  been 
poured  in,  the  nerves  are  painted  white.  Between 
these  spectres  and  above  on  the  stage,  a  manikin  mocks 
the  fair  proportions  of  humanity.  Among  these  exiles 
of  the  grave,  the  doctor's  form  rears  its  six  feet  four 


64  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

inches  of  comeliness,  instinct  with  life  and  earnestness. 
In  the  midst  of  his  enthusiastic  love  of  his  wonderful 
science,  an  undercurrent  of  wit  occasionally  flashes 
out,  which  keeps  us  wide  awake." 
4|Mention  is  also  made  of  Prof.  Kidd's  instruction  in 
elocution,  Rev.  Mr.  Peabody^s  letters  from  Europe 
and  the  visits  of  many  good  friends. 

At  the  close  of  this  chapter  of  the  journal  a  char- 
acteristic letter  which  had  been  received  from  Dr.  E,ea, 
full  of  good  cheer  and  the  old-time  wit,  was  read  by 
Miss  Anna  Kumler,  of  the  Class  of  ^79,  daughter  of 
one  of  the  first  teachers  previously  mentioned,  Mrs. 
Abbie  [Golding]  Kumler. 


CHAPTER  III. 

BEAD   BY   MAY   HENRY. 
1860. 

The  school  year  of  1859-60  was  brought  to  a  sudden 
close  by  the  fire  of  January  14.  The  journal  gives  a 
full  account  of  the  thrilMng  events  of  that  night  and 
of  the  experience  of  the  following  months  : 

''  Our  household  had  retired  as  usual  and  were  all 
resting  quietly,  when  at  about  twelve  o'clock,  one  of 
the  young  ladies  in  No.  11,  in  the  fifth  story,  was 
awakened  by  a  light  in  her  room,  and  a  rumbling 
noise,  as  though  small  fragments  of  mortar  were  fall- 
ing. She  rose  to  find  ihat  the  partitions  of  her  room 
were  burning,  though  the  plaster  prevented  the  flames 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  65 

from  bursting  into  the  room.  The  fire  originated 
from  a  defective  flue,  and  had  probably  been  burning 
for  many  hours.  The  teachers  were  quietly  notified 
of  the  discovery,  and  under  their  direction  the  stew- 
ard, Mr.  Elliot,  was  summoned,  and  the  remainder 
of  the  household  aroused.  Mr.  Elliot's  investigations 
soon  made  it  evident  that  nothing  could  be  done  to 
save  the  building.  The  young  ladies  formed  them- 
selves in  lines  to  pass  buckets  of  water,  but  it  was  of 
no  avail.  Friends  from  town  were  soon  on  the  ground 
and  every  effort  was  directed  to  saving  clothing  and 
furniture.  There  was  no  confusion,  no  excitement. 
Never  before  had  there  been  so  much  reason  to  be 
proud  of  the  conduct  of  our  young  ladies.  One  of  the 
pupils  made  a  very  narrow  escape.  Having  returned 
to  her  room  on  the  fifth  floor,  hoping  to  save  more  of 
her  property,  she  found,  when  she  was  ready  to  leave, 
that  the  stairway  was  oti  fire.  She  went  back  to  her 
room;  moved  her  bed  near  the  window;  hastily  at- 
tached to  the  bedpost  a  rope  formed  of  strips  torn 
from  her  sheets  and  counterpane,  by  which  she  let 
herself  down  to  the  ground.  Her  first  words,  when 
she  had  completed  her  dangerous  descent,  were  to  in- 
quire, "  I  wonder  if  any  one  has  thought  to  get  the 
silver  out  ?  ^' 

The  doors  of  the  Oxford  Female  College  were  hos- 
pitably opened  to  receive  the  homeless  family,  and 
turning  away  from  the  burning  house  the  sorrowful 
procession  made  its  way  thither,  to  seek  shelter  from 
the  snow  and  sleet.  The  appearance  of  the  company 
was  grotesque  enough  to  provoke  a  smile  in  the  midst 


66  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

of  the  sorrow,  the  motley  garb,  the  ill-matched  suits, 
table  covers  and  blankets  for  wraps,  stockingless  feet 
and  bare  heads.  On  Saturday  morning  the  school 
met  at  the  Female  College  for  a  short  devotional  ex- 
ercise, and  to  receive  directions  from  their  teachers. 
There  was  new  meaning  in  the  words  of  the  dear  old 
Portuguese  hymn  as  that  band  that  had  been  brought 
safely  through  the  flames,  sang  them  together  that 
morning — 

"  When  through  fiery  trials  thy  pathway  shall  lie, 
My  grace  all  sufficient  shall  be  thy  supply ; 
The  flames  shall  not  hurt  thee,  I  only  design 
Thy  dross  to  consume  and  thy  gold  to  refine/' 

The  young  ladies  were  kindly  cared  for  by  the 
families  of  the  village  over  the  Sabbath.  On  Sabbath 
morning  the  communion  service  was  celebrated  in  the 
Presbyterian  church.  The  lesson  read  from  scripture 
was  from  Acts  xxvii,  and  there  seemed  special  appro- 
priateness in  the  words :  "  There  shall  be  no  loss  of 
any  man's  life  among  you,  but  of  the  ship."  Rev. 
Mr.  Langstroth  preached  a  sermon  of  thanksgiving 
from  the  words  of  Habakkuk  :  '^  Although  the  fig  tree 
shall  not  blossom,  neither  shall  fruit  be  in  the  vines  ; 
the  labor  of  the  olive  shall  fail,  and  the  fields  shall 
yield  no  meat ;  the  flock  shall  be  cut  off  from  the  fold, 
and  there  shall  be  no  herd  in  the  stalls ;  yet  I  will 
rejoice  in  the  Lord,  I  will  joy  in  the  God  of  my  salva- 
tion." The  president  of  the  university.  Dr.  Hall^ 
spoke  some  words  of  encouragement  to  the  friends  of 
the  seminary,  who  wei'e  sorrowing  over  their  disap- 
pointed hopes.     He  said :     "  Though  now   you  are 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  67 

cast  down  by  sorrow,  and  the  way  seems  dark,  yet 
when  a  new  seminary  shall  crown  yon  beautiful  hill, 
one  of  fairer  proportions ;  one  giving  more  general 
satisfaction  ;  one  which  will  be  an  honor  to  the  church, 
then  you  will  love  it  more  tenderly  because  you  have 
suffered  for  its  sake/^  He  seemed  to  express  the  gen- 
eral sentiment  of  the  community,  "  the  seminary  must 
be  rebuilt." 

It  was  decided  to  rent  the  house  of  Mr.  James 
Fisher,  in  the  beautiful  grounds  next  to  the  seminary, 
for  the  use  of  the  senior  class  the  remainder  of  the 
year,  and  in  that  building  they  completed  the  studies 
of  the  course,  under  the  instruction  of  Miss  Peabody 
and  Miss  McCabe.  Many  precious  memories  cluster 
around  those  days  spent  in  the  "Little  Western." 
Mention  should  be  made  in  this  connection  of  one  of  the 
early  friends  of  the  seminary.  Professor  Elliot,  of  the 
university,  who,  among  many  other  kindnesses,  at  this 
time  taught  the  class  in  Butler's  Analogy.  The  class 
graduated  in  May,  and  we  find  the  following  account 
of  the  day,  taken  from  one  of  the  current  papers  : 
"  The  young  ladies  stood  before  the  audience  objects 
of  peculiar  interest,  as  remnants  of  the  first  seminary's 
pupils,  and,  having  finished  their  course  in  a  way 
original  and  romantic,  they  appeared  not  simply  gradu- 
ates of  a  school,  but  beautiful  memorials  of  the  past ; 
and  hence  the  services  connected  with  their  graduation 
did  not  consist  so  much  in  granting  diplomas  as  in 
uttering  sentiments,  originating  in  common  sympathies 
for  the  past  and  hopes  for  the  future."  One  of  the 
events  of  the  occasion  was  the  fitting  up  of  a  box  to  be 
placed  in  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  building.     Into 


63  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

this  box  Dr.  Allen,  president  of  the  board  of  trustees, 
placed  catalogues  of  the  Oxford  schools  and  some 
other  documents  of  the  day;  and  also  some  written 
sentiments  prepared  by  members  of  the  graduating 
class.  We  copy  the  following :  ^'  The  Western 
Female  Seminary;  Christ  himself  the  chief  corner- 
stone. It  has  nothing  to  fear  but  that  it  may  not 
know  its  duty,  or  may  fail  to  do  it.  May  the  pillar 
of  cloud  which  guarded  the  door  of  the  tabernacle 
rest  ever  at  the  going  in  of  our  beloved  seminary, 
preventing  the  ingress  of  anything  that  defileth  or 
maketh  a  lie." 

The  teachers  of  the  seminary  :  ^^  May  their  aim  be 
the  approbation  of  God,  his  favor  their  reward. " 

Miami  University : 

"  Seldom  yet  did  living  creature  see, 
That  courtesy  and  manhood  disagree." 

The  citizens  of  Oxford  : 

"  What  can  I  pay  thee  for  this  noble  usage 
But  grateful  praise  ?     Thus  heaven  itself  is  paid." 

The  trustees :  "  Their  honor  got  by  many  actions, 
lost  by  none." 

Dr.  Allen  offered  the  following  :  "  Gabriel  Tichenor, 
to  whose  large-hearted  benefactions  the  Western 
Female  Seminary  owes  so  much  of  its  original  success, 
and  which  has  done  so  much  to  sustain  the  courage  of 
its  friends  in  the  season  of  its  calamity." 

The  class  of  1861  also  completed  its  course  in  this 
temporary  home.  Even  as  late  as  August  of  that 
year  it  seemed  doubtful  whether  the  new  building 
could  be  ready  for  use  that  fall.     The  disturbed  state 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  69 

of  the  country  made  it  almost  impossible  to  raise  the 
necessary  funds,  and  the  trustees  were  ready  to  decide 
upon  a  postponement  of  the  opening.  But  a  few 
brave  hearts,  headed  by  our  principal,  could  not  say 
"fail/'  and  with  vigorous  efforts  the  needed  pecuniary 
pledges  were  secured,  the  heating  apparatus  ordered 
trom  the  east,  the  three  miles  of  steam  pipe  laid 
through  the  building,  a  work  of  six  months  accom- 
plished in  as  many  weeks,  and  on  October  9,  the 
scattered  family  met  in  the  new  home.  In  the  list  of 
teachers  who  constituted  the  corps  of  instructors  for 
this  year  we  find  a  new  name  added,  Miss  Emily 
Jessup,  and  affectionate  allusion  made  to  her  invalid 
condition,  as  well  as  to  the  great  value  of  her  instruc- 
tion in  the  class-room  and  in  religious  meetings. 

The  new  building  was  not  dedicated  until  May  21, 
1862.  The  general  assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  was  at  that  time  in  session  in  Cincinnati,  and 
attended  the  exercises  by  invitation.  The  dedicatory 
address  was  delivered  by  Rev.  H.  H.  Field,  of  New 
York. 

In  June,  1861,  the  seminary  came  into  possession 
of  a  permanent  fund  of  $20,000,  the  income  of  which 
shall  be  applied  to  the  salaries  of  teachers.  This  was 
the  bequest  of  Gabriel  Tichenor,  of  Walnut  Hills, 
one  of  the  first  donors  to  the  seminary,  who  himself 
died  before  the  original  building  was  completed. 

By  his  last  will  he  bequeathed  a  large  portion  of 
his  estate  to  the  cause  of  Christian  and  ministerial 
education,  one-half  of  which  was  to  be  devoted  to  the 
Western  Female  Seminary,  as  above  designated,  pay- 


70  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

able  one  year  after  the  death  of  his  wife.  The  be- 
loved Mrs.  Tichenor  died  June  1,  1860. 

The  years  1862-63  passed  quietly  by,  with  but  lit- 
tle to  interrupt  the  school  and  family  life. 

The  spring  of  ^64  was  another  of  the  marked  eras 
in  our  history,  when  the  school  was  called  to  pass 
through  most  trying  experiences.  Before  the  spring 
vacation  two  dear  girls  in  the  household  died.  Of 
one  of  these,  Addie  Curtis,  we  will  take  a  brief 
sketch  from  the  journal,  as  an  illustration  of  some  of 
the  experiences  that  belong  to  our  history :  "Addie 
was  a  young,  timid  girl  of  fifteen,  who  came  a  stranger 
among  us  at  the  opening  of  the  year.  She  classed 
herself  among  those  who  had  no  hope  in  Chirst, 
at  first,  but  early  in  the  year  she  came  to  her  section 
teacher  with  the  good  news  that  she  had  given  her 
heart  to  Jesus.  Soon  after  New  Yearns  sudden 
changes  in  the  weather  occasioned  some  sickness  in 
the  house,  and  Addie  was  attacked  with  inflammatory 
rheumatism.  In  a  few  days  it  became  evident  that 
she  could  not  live.  Upon  Miss  Peabody  devolved 
the  painful  duty  of  telling  Addie  that  she  was  passing 
away.  In  the  midst  of  intense  suffering  the  poor 
child  looked  appealingly  to  Miss  Peabody,  and  said : 
'  Oh,  what  does  this  terrible  pain  mean  ?  ^  Miss  Pea- 
body took  her  hand  and  said,  ^  Dear  Addie,  we  fear 
that  it  means  that  you  are  dying,'  With  a  startled 
look  she  turned  to  her  mother,  and  said,  ^  Do  you 
hear  what  Miss  Peabody  said?  She  frightened  me.' 
The  fear  was  only  for  a  moment ;  soon  the  promised 
peace  settled  upon  the  soul  of  the  dying  one,  and  like 
a  veteran  who  had  fought  the  fight  and  finished  the 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  71 

work,  she  gathered  her  robes  around  her  to  die.  She 
asked  Miss  Peabody  to  pray  with  her,  and  continued 
the  supplications  with  her  own  voice.  The  remainder 
of  the  night  was  full  of  triumphant  joy ;  many  mes- 
sages were  left  for  loved  ones :  ^  Tell  father  that  I 
love  him,  and  that  I  die  in  the  love  of  the  Savior 
Tell  him  I  want  him  to  love  Jesus.'  ^  Tell  sister  Jen- 
nie to  love  the  Savior;  oh,  I  did  not  begin  soon 
enough.'  ^  Tell  Miss  Golding  she  has  been  one  cause 
of  leading  me  to  the  Savior.  She  talked  to  me  before 
I  was  sick.'  ^  Tell  father  I  am  not  sorry  I  came  here. 
Jesus  came  to  save  just  such  poor  sinners  as  I  am. 
What  is  that  prayer?  Oh,  Lord !  be  merciful  to  me  a 
sinner.'  ^  Tell  Lou  and  Sarah  (her  room  mates)  to  try 
to  seek  the  Savior.  Nobody  knows  how  sweet  it  is  to 
die  looking  to  Jesus.'  Later  in  the  night  she  said : 
^  I  have  not  gone  yet,  have  I  ?  I  thought  I  saw  the 
shining  shore,  and  the  angels  and  Christ.  I  want  to 
go,  but  am  willing  to  wait.  I  am  only  fifteen  years 
old.  Oh,  if  I  had  not  become  a  Christian  before  I 
was  sick,  I  could  not  now.  Tell  the  girls  that  a  dying 
bed  is  no  place  to  repent.  Fifteen  years  here,  and  a 
long,  long  eternity  just  before  me.'  " 

So  the  night  passed  away  and  just  as  the  first  bell 
called  the  household  to  the  duties  of  another  day,  her 
happy  spirit  passed  from  earth  to  the  blessed  land 
where  there  shall  be  no  more  night. 

Soon  after  the  opening  of  the  spring  term,  typhus 
or  spotted  fever  broke  out  in  the  school  in  a  most 
malignant  form.  Sarah  Ewing  was  its  first  victim,  a 
dear  friend  of  Addie  Curtis,  and  one,  who,  like  her, 
had  just  begun  a  Christian  life,  having  been  led  to 


72  "WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

accept  the  Savior  in  response  to  the  dying  message 
of  her  friend.  Within  a  few  days  after  Sarah's  death 
twenty-seven  of  the  family  were  prostrated  by  this 
disease,  and  it  became  necessary  to  close  the  school. 
Some  were  carried  to  their  homes  and  others  were  too 
weak  to  be  moved.  About  forty  of  the  young  ladies 
volunteered  to  remain  as  nurses,  and  friends  from 
Oxford  were  also  ready  with  assistance.  Greatly  to 
the  surprise  of  the  physicians  only  five  of  the  whole 
number  died,  two  in  their  homes  and  three  at  the 
seminary.  Among  the  latter  we  would  mention,  with 
loving  tenderness,  Lizzie  Ballard  Walker,  of  the  Class 
of  '60.  After  the  death  of  her  husband  she  had 
turned  with  weary,  loving  heart  to  her  seminary  home, 
where  she  had  filled  a  daughter's  place  to  Miss  Pea- 
body,  and  where  her  memory  still  lingers  like  a  sweet 
fragrance  that  the  years  do  not  dispel. 

During  these  years  when  the  civil  war  was  desolat- 
ing our  land  the  seminary  girls  were  wide  awake  to 
the  perils  that  were  threatening  their  beloved  coun- 
try. We  find  frequent  allusions  to  their  eager  inter- 
est in  the  war  news ;  impromptu  illuminations  in  honor 
of  some  great  victory ;  hearty  singing  of  the  Star 
Spangled  Banner;  patriotic  willingness  to  devote  an 
occasional  composition  day  to  manufacturing  a  flag  for 
the  seminary,  or  picking  lint  for  the  wounded  soldiers. 
The  home  life  of  these  years  was  varied  by  many 
pleasant  events,  most  of  which  must  pass  unnoticed. 

Pleasant  mention  is  again  made  of  little  Henry 
Peabody  and  the  blue-eyed  baby  sister,  Susie,  who 
were  frequent  visitors  at  the  seminary  during  these 
vears. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  73 

At  the  close  of  the  reading  of  this  paper  a  piano 
solo,  "  Tourbillon '^  (Goldbeck),  was  performed  by 
Miss  Susie  Peabody,  now  a  member  of  the  junior 
middle  class  of  the  seminary. 

Henry  Peabody,  the  baby  alluded  to  in  the  first 
chapter,  now  a  young  man  whose  age  measures  the  age 
of  the  seminary,  was  present,  and  sat  with  '^  his  class,^^ 
that  of  ^77,  having  been  voted  an  "honorary  member'^ 
during  a  visit  to  the  seminary  in  the  summer  term  of 
that  year,  just  after  having  taken  his  diploma  at  Dart- 
mouth College. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


READ   BY   LILLIE   KENDALL. 


Of  the  remaining  years  of  the  seminary  history  we 
must  content  ourselves  with  merely  gleaning  the  most 
important  events.  At  the  coming  together  of  the 
school  in  the  fall  of  1865  there  was  great  rejoicing 
over  the  fact  that  the  trustees  had  succeeded  in  freeing 
the  institution  from  debt. 

During  the  summer  of  '6Q,  Mrs.  Tenney,  one  of  the 
earliest  and  most  faithful  friends  of  the  seminary,  died. 
Those  who  were  familiar  with  the  first  days  of  its  life 
and  its  struggle  for  existence,  know  what  a  friend 
was  lost  in  her  death.  She  had  been  a  pupil  of  Mary 
Lyon,  and  her  strong,  sweet,  earnest,  practical  spirit 
was,  perhaps  more  than  any  other,  the  mainspring  of 
the  earliest  movement  to  found  this  institution.      Her 


74  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

death  was  keenly  felt,  and  her  memory  is  tenderly 
cherished.  She  lies  in  yonder  cemetery,  in  sight  of 
the  school  which  was  so  early  baptized  with  her 
prayers,  her  sacrifices  and  her  love. 

Turning  over  the  pages  of  the  journal  we  come,  in 
the  record  of  the  spring  of  ^68,  to  another  of  those 
startling  events  that  have  marked  our  school  history. 

March  2. — For  a  long  time  we  have  been  troubled 
by  some  person  breaking  into  the  house  occasionally. 
The  chief  object  seemed  to  be  merely  to  enter  the 
domestic  apartments  and  store-rooms  for  food  and 
groceries.  It  was  some  time  before  we  discovered 
how  the  entrance  was  effected,  but  when  discovered 
additional  precautions  were  taken  to  make  the  house 
secure  in  every  part.  Soon  we  found  that  our  pre- 
cautions were  in  vain,  and  that  the  thief,  grown  bolder, 
came  above  the  basement  floor;  and  for  several  suc- 
cessive Saturday  nights  young  ladies  on  the  first  and 
second  floors  were  convinced  that  they  heard  some  one 
in  the  halls,  and  in  some  cases  in  their  rooms.  Miss 
Peabody  was  in  great  trouble  over  the  matter.  She  did 
not  wish  to  alarm  the  girls,  but  the  burden  on  her  heart 
was  very  heavy.  On  the  night  of  February  22  the 
house  was  entered  again.  On  Sabbath  morning  there 
was  quite  a  stir  at  the  breakfast  table ;  one  had  heard 
footsteps  in  the  hall;  another  in  her  room;  another 
had  heard  a  bunch  of  keys  fall;  a  flash  of  light, 
like  the  striking  of  a  match,  had  been  seen ;  a  writing- 
desk  had  been  disturbed.  When  we  came  to  teachers' 
prayer-meeting  that  morning  we  were  greatly  troubled, 
and  felt  that  we  must  commit  the  trouble  to  God.    We 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  75 

had  used  every  precaution  in  the  shape  of  bars  and 
bolts  and  watchmen,  though  we  had  not  been  able  to 
secure  a  competent  guard  every  night.  The  exceeding 
boldness  of  the  intruder  led  us  to  think  he  presumed 
on  the  fact  of  our  being  women,  the  only  man  who 
sleeps  in  the  house  having  his  room  in  the  basement. 
Another  week  passed  by,  and  the  night  of  February 
29  found  us  without  a  suitable  guard.  Miss  Gold- 
ing,  one  of  the  teachers,  announced  her  intention  of 
keeping  watch  with  a  determination  to  solve  the  dark 
mystery.  Mrs.  Swing  said  she  must  not  sit  up  alone, 
so,  when  the  last  light  was  out,  the  two  ladies  took 
their  seats  in  the  library,  in  the  middle  of  the  main 
hall,  first  floor. 

Between  eleven  and  twelve  o^clock  steps  were  heard 
coming  up  from  the  basement,  and  going  up  the  south 
stairs  of  the  main  building.  The  ladies  waited  until 
they  heard  them  on  the  third  floor,  and  then  quietly 
left  their  place  of  watching  one  to  notify  Miss  Peabody, 
the  other  to  go  for  Mr.  Lyons,  the  steward,  who  lives 
in  a  little  cottage  a  few  rods  from  the  seminary.  The 
man  who  usually  slept  in  the  house  had  that  day  been 
discharged,  and  his  place  had  not  been  filled.  There 
was  no  time  to  summon  more  assistance,  so  the  four 
ladies.  Miss  Peabody,  her  room  mate.  Miss  Thomas, 
Miss  Golding,  Mrs.  Swing,  with  Mr.  Lyons  and  an- 
other man  who  was  with  him,  formed  their  plan  of 
defense  and  capture.  Mrs.  Swing  and  Miss  Golding 
lighted  the  lower  hall.  Mrs.  Swing  with  a  lamp  went 
up  the  stairs  of  the  south  wing.  Miss  Thomas  those  of 
the  north  wing.  Miss  Peabody  kept  watch  in  the  main 
hall,  first  floor.  Miss  Golding  on  the  second  floor,  Mr. 


76  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Lyons  with  a  dark  lantern  went  up  the  main  stairs ; 
he,  only,  was  armed.      The  unarmed  man,  Mr.  Butler, 
went  up  the  stairs  of  the  north  wing  without  a  light. 
The  burglar,  hearing  footsteps  below,  sought  an  escape 
by  the  north  wing  stairs,  but  ran  against  Mr.  Butler. 
Retracing  his  steps  to  the  main  building  he  met  Mr. 
Lyons,  who,  thinking  it  might  be   Mr.  Butler,  said : 
^^  Henry,  is  that  you  ?  ^^     There  was  no  answer.     Mr. 
Lyons  called:  "Speak,  or  V\\  shoot  you.'^     At  this 
moment  Mr.  Lyons^  dark   lantern  went   out,  and   the 
man,  seeing  his  advantage,  jumped  over  the  balustrade 
to  the  stairs,  and  in  an  instant  was  on  the  second  floor. 
Here  Miss  Golding  appeared,  with  light  in  hand,  and 
the  pursuit  commenced.     The   burglar  leaped  down 
the  next  flight  and  tried   to  escape  through   the  front 
door,  but  failing  to  unlock  it   he  rushed  through   the 
parlors  through  the  chapel,   where  he   stopped  long 
enough   to  throw  a  settee  at   Mr.  Lyons,  through   the 
south  hall,  down  stairs  to  the  domestic  hall  and  out  of 
the   door.      Mr.    Lyons   had  fired   his  revolver  more 
than  once,  before  each   shot  demanding  that  the  man 
should  stop.     The  last  shot  was  fired  just  as  he  un- 
locked the  outer  door.     Prof    McFarland  was  sum- 
moned, and  search  was  made  for  the  man.     He  was 
found   dead  a  few  rods  from  the  house.     The  whole 
pursuit  scarcely  occupied  three   minutes.     None   but 
those  mentioned  knew  the  cause  of  the  alarm.     Some 
of  the  girls  slept  through  it  all,  and  heard  of  it  first 
at  the  breakfast  table  the  next  morning. 

When  we  gathered  at  the  table  Miss  Peabody  pro- 
posed that  we  should  have  our  devotional  exercises 
first.     She  related  the  occurrences  of  the  night,  read 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  77 

appropriate  passages  of  Scripture;  "And  now/'  she 
said,  "these  promises  of  protection  to  those  who  put 
their  trust  in  God  have  been  verified  to  us;  we  were 
in  great  danger,  but  God  took  care  of  us;  he  gave 
wisdom  and  courage  to  defenseless  women  who  trusted 
in  him,  but  took  them  away  from  the  strong  man  who 
despised  his  laws.  Young  ladies,"  she  continued,  "do 
not  dwell  on  the  thought  that  a  wicked  man  walked 
through  our  halls  and  entered  our  rooms,  but  rather 
lift  your  thought  to  God  who  guarded  us  from  harm, 
and  was  our  defense  and  shield."  That  Sabbath  was 
a  solemn  day  in  our  family.  We  could  but  regret  the 
necessity  that  had  stained  our  beautiful  house  with 
human  blood.  The  burglar  was  a  colored  man  of  Ox- 
ford. An  inquest  was  held,  when  Mr.  Lyons  was 
acquitted,  with  expressions  of  commendation  by  all 
the  officers  of  justice  having  the  affair  in  charge." 

During  the  year  '68-69  some  pleasant  famjly  events 
are  recorded.  "  Early  in  October  the  Synod  of  In- 
diana came  over  from  Connersville  where  they  were 
in  session,  to  make  us  a  visit.  The  telegram  announc- 
ing their  intention  was  received  late  Friday  afternoon, 
and  all  hands  were  kept  busy  Saturday  morning  to 
prepare  dinner  for  our  sixty  guests.  The  visit  was 
a  pleasant  one,  especially  to  those  who  had  fathers, 
brothers  or  pastors  among  the  visitors.  The  gentle- 
men were  shown  all  over  the  house  and  grounds,  and 
religious  exercises  were  held  in  the  chapel.  Many 
pleasant  and  interesting  things  were  said,  and  the 
whole  day  was  a  delightful  one.  Among  the  guests 
was  our  beloved  ex-pastor.  Rev.  J.  P.  E.  Kumler, 
whose  departure  from  Oxford  during  the   previous 


78  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

summer  had  been  a  great  sorrow.  He  and  Mrs. 
Kuml^r  are  such  true  friends  to  us  and  to  the  school 
that  to  lose  them  seems  like  losing  part  of  ourselves. " 
"  Christmas  day  brought  the  gift  of  a  new  carriage 
from  several  of  our  trustees,  Mr.  Hinkle,  Mr.  Roots 
and  Mr.  Shafer.  Our  old  carriage  has  done  us  good 
service,  going  to  town  twice  a  day  for  several  years ; 
but  for  the  last  month  we  have  had  serious  apprehen- 
sions that  some  day,  like  the  famous  "  one  horse  shay," 
it  woiifd  go  to  atoms  and  leave  horse,  driver  and 
letters  scattered  on  the  road.  So  we  confided  our  fears 
to  good  Mr.  Hinkle,  and  the  result  was  a  committee  on 
"  ways  and  means  "  to  get  a  carriage.  Have  we  not 
introduced  Mr.  Hinkle  to  you  ?  It  must  be  because 
we  thought  no  introduction  was  necessary  of  one  who, 
as  a  most  faithful  trustee  since  1861,  has  been  such  a 
frequent  visitor  at  our  home ;  one  whose  very  name 
represents  to  every  seminary  girl,  good  cheer  and 
hearty  laughter  and  kindly  interest ;  one  who  is  ever 
ready  to  come  to  us  on  the  shortest  notice  for  aid  and 
counsel ;  who  is  never  too  busy  to  attend  to  our  com- 
missions in  the  city,  and  whose  pleasant  home  is  always 
open  to  receive  us.  He  and  his  wife  always  spend 
Christmas  with  us  ;  Mr.  Hinkle  coming  up  on  the  last 
train,  as  he  is  one  of  the  chief  men  of  the  famous 
Bethel  Sunday  School  of  Cincinnati,  and  can  not  be 
spared  from  the  Christmas  dinner  that  is  always  served 
to  its  two  thousand  pupils.  Some  of  Mr.  Hinkle^s 
friends  say  that  he  has  two  pets ;  the  Bethel  Sabbath 
School  and  the  Western  Female  Seminary  ;  but  he 
divides  his  heart  and  his  time  so  equally  between 
them,  that  neither  finds  occasion  for  jealousy.     On  the 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  79 

present  occasion  Mrs.  Swing,  one  of  our  number  gifted 
with  rhyme,  celebrated  the  donors  ol  the  new  carriage 
in  an  ode,  very  original  in  ideas  and  style.  The 
reading  of  it  was  the  principal  event  of  Christmas 
evening.^' 


CHAPTER  V. 


READ      BY      LIZZIE      QUICK,      DAUGHTER      OF      MRS.    MARIA 

[THATCHER]    QUICK,   THE   FIRST   MISSIONARY   WHO 

WENT     OUT     FROM     THE     SEMINARY. 

The  year  1870-71  is  another  memorable  year.  We 
were  obliged  to  say  good-bye  to  one  who  for  eteven 
years  had  filled  an  important  place  in  our  family. 
Miss  Gow,  to  whose  earnest,  practical  instructions  those 
of  the  Alumnae  who  remember  her,  will  gladly  ac- 
knowledge their  indebtedness.  Her  health  had  failed 
so  completely  that  it  was  impossible  for  her  to  remain 
longer.  Her  successor,  as  journalist,  pays  affectionate 
tribute  to  the  one  whose  going  left  such  an  empty 
place  in  our  hearts  and  home.  "  We  miss  her  every 
where.  To  her  pupils  no  instruction  can  be  quite  like 
hers.  To  the  teachers  no  one  can  be  just  the  eame 
counsellor,  the  same  friend,  the  same  helper  that  Miss 
Gow  was/^ 

During  the  fall  and  winter  great  inconvenience  and 
considerable  anxiety  were  caused  by  failure  of  our 
supply  of  water.  Measles,  too,  made  its  appearance, 
making  it  necessary  to  anticipate  the  vacation  by  one 
week  ;  but  the  unwelcome  visitor  returned    with  us 


§0  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

when  we  re-assembled^  and  all  but  two  of  the  school 
who  had  not  had  it  before,  took  the  disease. 

A  plan  was  projected  this  year  for'  the  erection  of 
a  suitable  porch  at  the  front  entrance  of  the  building. 
Pupils  and  Alumnse  joined  heartily  in  the  effort.  After 
the  mail  of  April  6,  the  amount  contributed  footed  up 
at  just  $1,507.15.  Special  thanks  were  offered  in  the 
meetings  that  evening,  and  the  earnest  petition  that 
our  completed  building  might  be  more  entirely  con- 
secrated as  an  abiding  place  for  the  King  of  kings. 
Five  hours  later  the  offering  that  we  had  laid  upon 
the  altar  had  been  accepted  by  fire.  "We  laid  us 
down  and  slept '^ — we  awaked — yes,  surdy  the  Lord 
sustained  in  that  sudden  waking.  It  is  impossible  to 
put  in  words  the  horror  of  those  hours  ;  the  cry  of  fire 
sending  the  cold  chill  to  every  heart ;  the  anxious 
thoughts  for  sisters  and  pupils  and  friends  ;  the  stifling 
smoke ;  the  darting  flames ;  the  utter  helplessness  with 
which  we  watched,  not  knowing  but  that  some  dear 
ones  were  still  in  danger.  There  was  nothing  we 
could  do.  Again  kind  friends  welcomed  the  homeless 
ones  to  their  own  homes,  and  clothed  them  with  their 
own  clothing.  The  smouldering  ruins  spoke  sorrow- 
fully to  those  who  had  loved  the  seminary  and  labored 
for  it  during  these  years,  but  other  voices  were  soon 
heard  that  assured  us  that  our  father  had  not  forgot- 
ten. The  morning  after  the  fire  one  of  the  Seniors 
came  to  Miss  Peabody  with  the  word  that  her  books 
were  all  piled  up  in  front  of  the  seminary,  and  on  the 
top  of  all  was  lying  "  Muller's  Life  of  Trust.''  "  I  do 
believe,''  she  said,  "  it  means  that  God  is  going  to 
give  us  back  our  beautiful  seminary,  just  as  he  gave 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  32 

Muller  the  orphan  houses/'     The  first  mails  brought 
letters  that  proved  how  large  a  place  the   seminary 
filled  in  the  hearts  of  its  friends.     Some  of  these  were 
written  before  the  news  of  our  calamity  had  reached 
their  writers.     One  from  our  then  newly  elected  trus- 
tee, Preserved  Smith,  of  Dayton,  brought  these  words  : 
"I  enjoyed  your  last  anniversary,  and    hope    to  be 
present  at  the  next,  and  to  spend  more  time  and  to  be- 
come better  acquainted  with  you.     I  have  thought  for 
some  time  to  invest  some  money  in  your  institution, 
but  what  amount,  and  in  what  manner,  I  have  not 
fully  decided;  but  I  am  ready  now  to  promise  $200 
toward  the  porch  when  it  is  completed.^'     The  same 
mail  brought  a  check  for  $100  from  another  trustee, 
G.  Y.  Koots,  for  the  same  object. 

Two  days   later  these  words,  so  full  of  strength, 
came  from  Mrs.  Rhea,  then  in  East  Tennessee :  "  The 
world,   the    church,    the    mothers   and    daughters   in 
Israel,  can  not  spare  '  The  Western,'  and  I  must  be 
the  first  to  bring  an  offering  for  this  great  work.     I 
enclose  one  dollar  towards  rebuilding  the  house.      It 
is  a  widow's  mite  and  the  master  will  not  despise  it." 
The  sum  enclosed  was  made   up  to  five  dollars  by 
friends    who    learned   that    Mrs.  Ehea   was  writing. 
She  sends  the  precious  offering  with  this  benediction: 
''The    Lord    multiply   thee    one   hundred   thousand 
times,  and  supply  all  your  needs  and  build  your  waste- 
places  and  comfort  your  hearts  and  give  you  wisdom 
and  grace  and  guidance,  and  sanctify  to  all  concerned 
this  afflictive  event." 

One  of  the  graduates  of  the  Class  of  '69  wrote: 


82  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

^*  I  have  just  seen  a  telegram  in  the  Cincinnati  Gazette 
that  the  seminary  is  in  ruins.  How  can  it  be  !  Here 
are  ten  dollars  for  the  new  building.  Please  give  it 
to  Miss  Peabody  with  my  dearest  love.  God^s  ways 
are  very  mysterious,  but  it  must  all  mean  love." 

From  one  and  another  such,  words  of  love,  accom- 
panied with  offerings  of  money,  continued  to  pour  in, 
and  our  trustees  were  not  long  in  deciding  to  com- 
mence the  work  of  rebuilding.  Our  good  Mr.  Mc- 
Cord,  whose  name  we  would  speak  lovingly  and 
reverently,  being  written  among  those  who  "  rest  from 
their  labors,^^  was  asked  on  that  night  of  April,  as  he 
looked  upon  the  burning  walls,  whether  it  would  ever 
be  rebuilt.  Without  a  moment's  hesitation,  he  replied : 
"  Why,  yes;  we'll  have  it  rebuilt  before  it  gets  cold." 

Miss  Peabody  and  a  few  of  the  other  teachers  occu- 
pied a  house  in  Oxford  during  the  summer,  where 
plans  were  formed,  letters  written,  reports  of  progress 
prepared  and  everything  done  that  could  be,  to  further 
the  good  work.  By  the  18th  of  October,  diligent 
workmen  had  made  the  house  ready  for  the  school. 
Truly,  it  seemed  to  those  who  had  looked  upon  the 
smoking  ruins  in  April  and  now  mounted  the  stone 
steps  at  the  entrance,  that  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was 
visible.  "  I  will  never  leave  you  nor  forsake  you," 
seemed  to  echo  throughout  the  halls.  Every  brick 
and  timber,  every  pane  of  glass  and  every  article  of 
furniture  seemed  a  monument  of  love.  The  little 
grandchildren  of  the  seminary,  the  far  away  mission- 
ary, hard  working  teachers,  lonely  widows,  rich  and 
poor,  white  and  black,  all  had  sent  their  offerings  for 
the  rebuilding  and  furnishing.     Everything  was  fresh 


CARRIAGE  APPROACH  TO  SEMINARY. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  83 

and  clean,  and  there  were  many  improvements  and 
conveniences  added,  for  which  we  had  sighed  in  the 
old  building.  The  great  regulator  in  the  hall  ticking 
away  the  hours  is  a  memorial  of  the  Class  of  ^60. 
The  dainty  little  silver  castors  on  the  tables  in  the 
dining  room,  sparkle  in  the  gaslight,  and  recall  pleasant 
associations  with  the  Class  of  '67.  The  oaken  furni- 
ture on  the  platform  of  the  seminary  hall  comes  from 
the  Class  of  '70 ;  and  so  we  are  reminded  at  every 
turn,  of  the  love  of  the  older  sisters,  who  have  re- 
joiced to  have  a  share  in  making  the  old  home  beauti- 
ful once  more. 

The  new  building  was  dedicated  the  day  before 
Thanksgiving.  Trustees,  Alumnse  and  friends  gath- 
ered with  hearts  full  of  thankfulness  for  the  service. 
Nine  of  the  Class  of  '71  sat  upon  the  platform,  and 
received  from  the  president  of  the  board  the  diplomas 
which  would  have  been  awarded  the  preceding  June. 
The  address  by  Rev.  Mr.  Kumler  carried  us  through 
the  years  of  our  seminary  history,  and  reminded  us 
of  the  responsibility  resting  upon  educated  Christian 
women  in  this  day.  Among  the  many  touching  allu- 
sions that  were  made  by  different  speakers  one  seemed 
to  have  a  very  precious  lesson.  Reference  was  made 
to  the  way  in  which  dear  Miss  Jessup  was  rescued 
from  the  burning  building  on  that  fearful  night, 
almost  miraculous  strength  being  given  to  young 
girls  who  so  nobly  lifted  her  chair  in  their  arms  and 
carried  her  down  the  stairway,  far  away  from  danger. 
Some  one  in  speaking  of  it  had  said,  "  I  believe  it  was 
God  who  did  it,  and  he  permits  those  girls  to  have 
the  pleasure  of  thinking  it  was^they."     "  So,"  said  the 


84  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

speaker,  '*I  believe  it  was  God  who  wrought  all  these 
marvelous  things  we  give  thanks  for  here  to-day,  but 
he  has  allowed  Brothers  McCord  and  Hinkle  to  think 
it  was  they  who  were  doing  it  in  his  name."  The 
thought  found  echo  in  our  hearts,  for  could  any  human 
power  alone  have  so  evoked  beauty  out  of  ashes  ? 


CHAPTER  VI. 

READ   BY   LAURA    MAGILL. 

We  have  not  tried  to  record  with  the  return  of  each 
year,  the  details  of  our  father's  dealings,  for  time 
would  fail  us  for  the  half.  It  has  been  our  greatest 
desire  that  our  school  should  be  Christ's  school ;  that 
each  pupil  should  be  one  of  the  King's  daughters,  that 
every  room  should  be  an  abiding  place  for  the  holj)^ 
spirit.  We  can  not  tell  you  of  the  many  ways  in 
which  these  prayers  have  been  answered ;  it  is  a 
precious  memory  that  there  is  not  a  year  of  our  his- 
tory which  has  not  been  the  birth-year  into  the  new 
life  of  some  souls.  Sometimes  with  a  quiet,  gentle 
influence,  spreading  from  one  to  another ;  sometimes 
with  a  more  powerful  inflnence  from  without,  the 
work  has  been  carried  on  in  our  midst.  The  first 
year  in  the  new  building  brought  us  a  precious  bap- 
tism. We  find  the  following  sketch  which  was  pre- 
pared by  Miss  Peabody  at  the  time  : 

^^  Only  a  few  hours  before  the  seminary  building 
was  consumed  by  fire  on  the  seventh  of  last  April^ 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  85 

united  and  earnest  prayer  was  made  to  God  that  when 
the  stone  porch  should  be  erected  and  our  precious 
building  completed,  it  and  all  it  contained  might  be 
more  wholly  the  Lord's  than  ever  before,  and  like  the 
King's  daughter  it  might  be  all  glorious  within.  In 
less  than  six  hours  from  the  time  those  prayers  were 
offered,  we  were  aroused  to  look  upon  the  beautiful 
fabric,  a  shapeless  mass  of  ruins.  But  he  who  said  of 
his  own  body  ^  Destroy  this  temple  and  in  three  days 
I  will  build  it  again '  helped  us  not  only  to  kiss  the 
rod,  but  to  press  it  to  our  lips,  and  to  believe  that 
somehow  it  was  full  of  his  love.  How  he  touched 
and  warmed  hearts  toward  the  work  of  rebuilding,  in 
nearly  every  State  of  the  Union,  and  prompted  them 
to  send  their  five,  ten  or  twenty  dollars,  wrapped  about 
with  sympathy  and  prayer,  and  often  with  most  touch- 
ing history  of  loving  self-sacrifice ;  you  have  already 
been  told. 

When  we  saw  that  the  building  would  be  ready  for 
occupancy  by  October  18,  we  recognized  in  the  fact 
the  love  and  thought  of  God  for  it,  but  not  the 
answer  to  our  last  prayer  in  the  former  building. 
But  when  a  loved  and  only  daughter  from  a  distant 
southern  State  was  placed  in  our  care,  a  few  weeks 
before  the  time  of  opening  school,  and  before  we  were 
ready  to  occcupy  the  new  building  she  was  brought 
to  feel  her  need  of  and  to  seek  a  saving  interest  in  the 
savior  of  lost  sinners,  we  took  it  gratefully  as  an 
earnest  of  the  answer.  Then  the  first  Sabbath  night  in 
the  new  building  was  marked,  as  we  believe,  by  the 
new  birth  of  another  precious  soul  from  a  distant 
western  State.     As  the  weeks  went  on,  amid  many 


86  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

discomforts  incident  to  our  peculiar  circumstances, 
and  many  most  severe  and  sharp  tests  of  our  faith,  the 
following  little  note  was  slipped  into  my  hand:  "I 
have  found  out  of  late  what  a  sinner  I  am,  and  I  have 
prayed  night  and  day  that  I  might  get  rid  of  my 
burden.  I  can  hardly  get  my  lessons,  for  my  mind 
is  continually  on  the  subject  of  being  a  Christian. 
Will  you  not  pray  for  me  ?  Nothing  would  make  me 
so  happy  as  to  know  that  I  was  a  child  of  God.'^ 
Other  similar  requests  followed,  and  before  the  week 
of  prayer  ten  or  twelve  had  chosen  the  redeemer  out 
the  fifty  who  had  entered  the  school  without  a  hope 
in  Christ.  Monday,  January  8,  lessons  were  sus- 
pended, and  the  whole  day  was  observed  with  fasting 
and  prayer. 

The  evening  of  that  day  found  our  whole  school  as- 
sembled in  a  voluntary  prayer  meeting  at  which  more 
than  sixty  written  requests  were  presented  for  prayer 
for  the  writers  or  their  friends.  Many  of  the  follow- 
ers of  Christ  were  hungering  for  a  better  and  holier 
life.  Others,  burdened  for  an  unconverted  parent, 
brother,  or  school-mate,  poured  out  their  hearts  in 
most  direct,  brief,  voluntary  prayer.  About  forty 
such  prayers  were  offered  without  a  sufficient  pause 
for  us  to  rise  from  our  knees.  *^  Come,  Holy  Spirit, 
for  Christ's  sake,''  was  the  burden  of  each  one.  The 
interest  continued  through  the  week  of  prayer,  but  the 
Day  of  Pentecost  was  not  fully  reached  until  the  17th 
of  February.  That  day  brought  to  our  house  our  be- 
loved trustee.  Rev.  J.  L.  McKee,  D.  D.,  of  Louisville, 
Ky.  For  days  a  blessing  had  been  sought  on  his 
coming,  and  it  proved  to  be  the  coming  of  one  sent 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY,  87 

from  God.  We  were  first  led  by  him,  unitedly,  to 
seek  for  the  grace  of  attention  to  the  truth,  and  his 
prayer  was  answered,  and  for  ten  days  at  our  morning 
devotions  at  nine  o^clock,  and  at  our  evening  service 
from  seven  to  eight,  one  hundred  and  sixty  eager  faces, 
in  almost  breathless  attention,  hung  upon  the  clear, 
searching,  solemn  words  of  eternal  truth  as  they  fell 
with  touching  tenderness  from  the  speaker's  lips.  An- 
other day  we  were  directed  to  unite  in  seeking  the 
convicting  power  of  the  holy  spirit,  and  the  answers 
to  these  prayers  can  not  be  described.  For,  in  a  won- 
derful manner,  were  the  deceits  and  desperate  state  of 
of  the  heart  laid  bare,  till  we  were  glad  to  plead  for 
the  saving  influence  of  the  holy  spirit.  The  evening 
of  that  day,  in  a  spontaneous  prayer  meeting,  held 
after  the  evening  service  with  no  teacher  or  leader 
present  but  the  holy  spirit,  eighteen  gave  their  hearts 
to  God,  and  at  once  set  to  work  to  save  their  compan- 
ions. Some,  who  had  been  leaders  in  sin  and  diso- 
bedience, with  confession,  with  tears  and  entreaties, 
sought  out  the  companions  they  felt  they  had  led 
astray  and  prayed  with  and  for  them,  begging  them  to 
turn  and  become  reconciled  to  God.  The  work  is 
still  in  progress,  and,  in  some  views  of  it,  is  just  begun. 
Our  school  is  just  now  like  a  beautiful  orchard,  loaded 
with  fragrant,  tinted  bloom.  But  we  can  not  count 
the  fruit  until  after  the  frosts,  early  and  late; 'the 
winds,  the  moist  and  the  dry,  and  the  summer's  heat 
have  all  finished  their  work.  With  this  analogy  be- 
fore us,  we  shrink  from  speaking  of  numbers,  yet  to 
the  praise  of  sovereign  grace,  we  hope  the  number  left 
in  the  dear  household  without  a  saving  knowledge  of 


88  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Christ  is  less  than  ten,  perhaps  less  than  half  that 
number,  and  the  blessed  master  still  waits  to  be  gra- 
cious. Dr.  McKee  left  us  at  three  o'clock  Thursday 
afternoon.  As  he  stepped  into  the  carriage,  awaiting  hi  m 
at  the  door,  the  whole  school  had  gathered  upon  the 
beautiful  stone  porch,  built  with  the  offerings  of  hun- 
dreds who  love  the  seminary,  and  there  united  their 
hearts  and  voices  in  those  most  appropriate  words, 
"  Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow."  As  the 
carriage  drove  away  the}'  returned  to  the  chapel  to 
pour  out  their  overflowing  love  and  gratitude  to  him 
who  had  made  the  labor  of  his  servant  such  a  blessing 
to  us,  and  in  earnest  pleadings  that  the  power  of  the 
holy  spirit  would,  in  a  similar  manner,  attend  his 
work  at  Pewee  Valley  and  Danville.  Though  this 
beloved  servant  of  the  Lord  has  gone  from  us,  thanks 
be  unto  God,  his  master  tarries,  and  the  saving  work 
still  goes  on.  It  is  now  reaching  out  into  many  of  the 
homes  and  churches  represented  in  the  school,  after 
kindred  and  friends,  and  gracious  answers  to  prayer 
are  causing  sister's  hearts  to  overflow  in  grateful  yearn- 
ing after  others  still  unsaved.'' 

Of  the  years  '65,  '77  and  '78  as  interesting  records 
might  be  brought  forward,  but  we  must  let  the  one 
just  given,  serve  as  an  illustration.  Temporal  bless- 
ings were  not  denied  in  immediate  connection  with 
the  spiritual  ones  of  which  we  have  been  speaking. 
On  the  day  observed  as  the  concert  of  prayer  for 
schools  and  colleges,  in  the  same  year,  a  check  for 
$5,000  was  received  by  the  president  of  the  board  for 
the  treasury  of  the  seminary.  There  was  a  curious 
coincidence  about  that  number,  5,000.     The  amount 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  89 

that  was  contributed  in  small  sums  for  the  rebuilding 
was  |5,000 ;  the  trustees  in  larger  donations  made  up 
the  same  amount  as  their  contribution,  and  now  a 
single  individual,  an  aged  lady  in  Illinois,  who  had 
never  seen  the  seminary  adds  her  $5,000.  Now  what 
shall  we  say  more  ?  These  eight  years  that  have 
passed  since  the  present  seminary  building  was  finished 
have  been  full  of  good  things.  Many  guests  have 
tarried  with  us  for  a  season,  doing  us  good  by  earnest 
words  and  sympathy.  Missionary  friends  from  over 
the  seas,  noble  men  and  elect  ladies  of  the  church, 
whose  names  we  would  delight  to  record,  if  time  per- 
mitted. In  the  spring  of  ^76  members  of  the  first  six 
classes  gathered  at  the  seminary  for  a  reunion  in  honor 
of  the  fiftieth  birthday  of  our  beloved  principal. 
Twenty-one  graduates,  with  fourteen  of  their  children 
came  to  us  and  we  had  a  delightful  time  with  them, 
recalling  the  past,  and  looking  forward  to  the  future. 

We  would  not  omit  grateful  mention  of  hospitable 
friends  in  Oxford  who  have  not  forgotten  that  school 
girls  love  sometimes  to  find  their  way  into  a  real 
home  parlor,  and  to  sit  down  to  a  cosy  home  table. 
Many  of  the  Alumnae  of  these  years,  treasure  among 
the  most  pleasant  recollections  of  their  school  days, 
the  memory  of  a  day  or  an  evening  spent  at  the  home 
of  Mrs.  Lewis,  or  Mr.  McCord,  as  one  of  the  crown- 
ing delights  of  the  busy  senior  year. 

Year  after  year  improvements  have  been  made  in 
the  building  and  furnishings,  as  well  as  in  the  course 
of  study.  New  apparatus  has  been  obtained,  and 
books  added  to  the  library.     Large  additions  to  the 


90  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

library  have  been  the  gift  of  our  beloved  and  lamented 
trustee,  Prof.  Mills,  of  Crawfordsville. 

The  chapter  of  the  journal  which  has  just  been  pre- 
pared for  the  year  that  is  closing  relates  a  pleasant 
episode  of  last  anniversary.  Just  before  the  collation 
was  announced,  a  secret  which  we  had  with  difficulty 
kept  from  burning  through  for  long  weeks,  was  allowed 
to  burst  into  a  blaze.  Our  dear  treasurer,  Preserved 
Smith,  of  Dayton,  sat  with  bowed  head,  while  his 
munificent  gift  of  ten  thousand  dollars  (f  10,000)  was 
announced  and  applauded.  The  principal  is  to  remain 
intact  for  twenty-five  years,  while  the  interest  is  to  be 
applied  as  follows:  ;^150  to  the  library,  |200  to 
lectures  and  the  remainder  to  the  education  of  needy 
young  ladies,  who,  after  a  year's  connection  with  the 
seminary,  have  shown  themselves  worthy  of  such 
assistance. 

Is  not  this  a  fitting  close  for  our  story  ?  Can  not 
we  see  the  Father's  love  on  every  page  of  this  record  ? 
And  can  we  not  leave  the  future  with  him,  trustingly, 
cheerfully,  believing  that  he  knoweth  what  things  we 
have  need  of? 

At  the  close  of  the  reading  of  these  sketches  the 
school  rose,  and  a  brief  scripture  recitation  closed  the 
exercises  of  the  morning.  A  single  voice  asked  the 
question : 

"  What  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his  bene- 
fits toward  me?  " — Ps.  cxvi,  12  ;  to  which  the  school 
responded : 

"  We  will  take  the  cup  of  salvation  and  call  upon 
the  name  of  the  Lord.'' 

"O  praise  the  Lord  all  ye  nations  ;  praise  him  all  ye 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  91 

people.  For  his  merciful  kindness  is  great  toward 
us ;  and  the  truth  of  the  Lord  endureth  forever. 
Praise  ye  the  Lord/^ — Ps.  cxvi,  12;  cxvii,  1,  2. 

Rev.  Dr.  Little  pronounped  the  benediction. 

Being  still  in  the  body,  it  was  a  needful  transition 
to  descend  from  these  exalted  heights  and  repair  to 
the  dining-room,  where  a  material  feast  was  spread, 
served  '^  in  collation  style  '^  by  the  teachers  and  young 
ladies,  amid  social  enjoyment  unalloyed.  It  is  evident 
that  culinary  skill  at  the  seminary  has  attained  a  per- 
fection which  entitles  it  to  a  diploma.  By  previous 
arrangement  the  Oxford  friends  contributed  their 
lunch  baskets,  and  their  presence  added  greatly  to  the 
pleasure  of  the  occasion.  It  may  here  be  parentheti- 
cally remarked  that,  while  the  thrilling  history  of  the 
morning  had  been  rehearsing  in  the  hall,  two  of  the 
little  "grandsons"  of  the  seminary  were  down  at  the 
pond  engaged  in  the  remarkable  pastime  of  "dam- 
ming up  the  seminary" — at  least  that  is  what  they 
told  their  mothers,  in  hasty,  animated  recital  of  their 
happy  forenoon  play ;  and  in  proof  of  it  their  little 
dam  yet  stands.  It  is  now  high  and  dry^  however, 
waiting  for  the  first  freshet  to  sweep  it  away,  while, 
to  our  great  relief,  the  twenty-sixth  school  year  of  the 
seminary  is  already  gliding  along  with  unusual  smooth- 
ness and  happiness,  and  an  attendance  which  has 
increased  more  than  one-foruth  since  last  year. 


KEUNION  DAY. 


AFTERNOON  EXERCISES. 

The  respective  class  meetings,  which  had  been 
arranged  at  the  morning  alumnse  business  meeting, 
were  held  in  private  rooms  at  the  first  bell  after  dinner. 
Experiences  were  interchanged,  too  sacred  to  be  re- 
corded even  here;  letters  from  absent  ones  were  read, 
and  old  acquaintance  renewed  from  the  standpoint  of 
earnest  women  matured  by  experiences  of  life  and  the 
world  all  unknown  in  school  days.  The  time  proving 
too  short,  adjourned  class-meetings  were  arranged 
according  to  the  convenience  of  each. 

At  two  o'clock  exercises  were  resumed  in  the  hall, 
opening  with  "  May  Bells  '^  by  the  chorus  class. 

Miss  Ida  B.  Robbins  read  her  class  mate's  poem, 

"HOME  AGAIN." 

WRITTEN  BY  MISS  MARY  V.  EWING,  CLASS  78. 

Home  again!  the  welcome  summ.ons, 

Calls  us  back  from  far  and  near  ; 
Other  homes  and  duties  claim  us, 

But  our  common  home  is  here. 
School  girls,  here  we  worked  together, 

With  a  common  end  and  aim, 
"  Schooled  girls  "  now  return  we  hither, 

With  a  love  that's  just  the  same. 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  93 

Home  again !  the  eyeli  ds  quiver, 

Pearly  drops  steal  down  the  cheek, 
Tears  of  joy  and  not  of  sorrow, 

Hearts  are  full  and  words  are  weak. 
Joy  to  see  each  other's  faces, 

Clasp  each  other's  hands  once  more 
Hands  that  lingered  long  in  parting, 

In  the  sunny  days  of  yore. 

Home  again !  the  memory  lingers 

O'er  those  happy,  happy  days. 
When  each  hour  was  full  of  pleasure. 

And  each  moment  full  of  praise. 
Here  we  learned  that  life  is  earnest, 

Kot  a  worthless,  idle  toy, 
Something  given  us  to  cherish. 

For  a  noble,  high  employ. 

Here  we  learned  a  higher  wisdom 

Than  the  world  can  ever  give, 
'Tis  not  all  for  mortal  pleasure, 

'Tis  not  all  of  life  to  live. 
Here  through  faith  and  earnest  prayer, 

Many  feet  that  loved  to  stray. 
Turned  aside  from  paths  of  error. 

To  a  new  and  living  way. 

Home  again !  is  each  one  with  us  ? 

No.     Some  seats  are  vacant  now. 
Some  have  crossed  the  tossing  ocean. 

With  a  high  and  holy  vow ; 
,  Gone  the  seed  of  life,  to  scatter. 

Far  away  in  heathen  lands, 
May  they  come  with  sheaves  abundant 

In  their  consecrated  hands. 

Some  have  crossed  another  water, 

Deep  and  dark,  with  chilling  tide  ; 
Hid  from  us  the  shores  beyond  them. 

Bright  to  them  the  other  side. 


94  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Glad  the  songs  that  bade  them,  welcome, 

Sweet  the  rest  forever  more ; 
Tenderly  they  watch  and  wait  us 

Coming  to  that  blessed  shore. 

Home  again  !     Come  in  the  twilight 

To  the  accustomed  place  of  prayer. 
Gather  'round  our  teacher-mother — 

Often  she  has  met  us  there — 
Here  again  her  supplications 

For  the  daughters  of  her  care  ; 
Thank  our  Father  for  his  goodness 

That  this  voice  he  still  doth  spare. 

Thank  our  Father.     Oh,  his  goodness ! 

She  is  here  to  greet  us  home  ; 
'Twould  not  be  so  sweet  a  welcome, 

If  another  voice  had  come, 
In  the  place  so  long  remembered 

Where  her  presence  shed  the  light, 
And  her  hands  and  heart  were  busy 

Keeping  all  so  pure  and  bright. 

Soon  we  part — return  to  duty — 

But  new  strength  is  ours  to  go ; 
We  have  met  and  held  sweet  converse 

Once  again  on  earth  below. 
Soon  another  grand  reunion 

Will  recall  us  home  once  more. 
To  a  mansion  fair  and  heavenly 

On  a  calm  and  peaceful  shore. 

All  then  arose  and  joined  in  singing,  to  words  ar- 
ranged for  the  occasion  by  Miss  Alice  Milligan, 

AULD  LANG  SYNE: 

Should  early  friendships  be  forgot 

And  never  brought  to  mind  ? 
Should  early  friendships  be  forgot 

And  days  of  lang  syne  ? 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  95 

For  auld  lang  syne  we'll  sing 

For  auld  lang  syne, 
We'll  sing  a  song  of  friendship  sweet, 

For  auld  lang  syne. 

Our  feet  have  roamed  the  woodland  paths. 

In  search  of  flowers  fine  ; 
But  many  a  steeper  path  we've  trod. 

Since  auld  lang  syne.  — Chorus. 

For  harder  lessons  we  have  learned, 

Full  many  a  weary  line 
We've  conned  since  those  of  early  days 

In  auld  lang  syne.  — Chorus. 

And  when  we  leave  our  earthly  tasks 

For  service  all  divine. 
We'll  sing  of  how  he  loved  and  led 

Inxlays  of  auld  lang  syne. 

Of  auld  lang  syne  we'll  sing 

Of  auld  lang  syne 
We'll  sing  of  how  he  loved  and  led. 

In  auld  lang  syne. 

Miss  Clara  P.  Laurie,  Class  ^79,  read, 

"THE  MESSAGE  OF  THE  ABSENT." 

WRITTEN     BY    MRS.    MARY    BOSWORTH    HENDERSON,   CLASS   '69^ 

Mother,  beloved,  the  home-wind  has  brought  us, 
White-wing'd  and  lovely,  a  greeting  from  thee. 

She  who  has  cherished,  and  blest  us,  and  taught  us, 
Tenderly  yearneth  her  daughters  to  see. 

Far  o'er  the  earth  she  is  sending  her  blessing. 
Borne  on  the  love-scented  breath  of  that  wind. 

Syria,  Persia,  and  China  refreshing, 
Siam,  and  Laos,  and  land  of  the  Ind. 


96  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Come,  oh,  my  sisters,  how  can  we  deny  her  ? 

Come,  let  us  go  the  feast  she  has  spread. 
Do  not  our  hearts  burn  within  with  desire 

Once  more  to  taste  of  her  wine  and  her  bread  ? 

Dear  Ahna  Mater,  thou  hast  many  daughters, 
Mother  of  mothers  and  teachers  thou  art. 

Long  weary  miles  o'er  the  land  and  the  water 
Life  and  its  duties  have  called  us  apart. 

Think  of  the  absent  ones,  those  who  must  linger 
From  the  glad  union  of  sisters  afar ; 

Think  of  the  absent  ones,  those  whom  God's  finger 
Evermore  marks  in  thy  book  with  a  star. 

What  shall  thy  absent  ones  send  to  that  meeting. 
Dear  Alma  Mater,  to  make  thee  more  blest  ? 

Love  that  is  heartfelt,  and  tenderest  greeting. 
Prayers  to  the  one  who  is  surely  thy  guest. 

Yea,  he  will  bless  thee,  our  dear  college  mother, 
See,  'tis  his  banner  he  spreadeth  above. 

Savior !  Immanuel !     He  and  none  other, 
Mighty  in  power  and  mighty  in  love. 


0 !  happy  sisters  who  haste  to  the  meeting, 
One  there  will  welcome  you  home  to  her  heart. 

She  through  whose  lips  Alma  Mater  is  speaking ; 
She  who  in  all  of  our  lives  has  a  part. 

Lovingly,  gratefully,  tribute  we  tender, 

Love  from  our  full  hearts,  oh,  sisters,  we  send ; 

Rise  up  ye  daughters  and  bless  hep,  and  render 
Praise  to  the  teacher,  the  mother,  the  friend. 

Patient,  beside  her,  another  is  sitting, 

Sick  and  in  prison  yet  God's  worker  blest, 

Honor  her,  sisters,  as  seemeth  well  fitting, 
Praises  should  crown  her  this  day  of  the  feast. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  97 

Honor  to  all  who  have  served  Alma  Mater, 
Smoothing  the  path  that  her  footsteps  have  trod, 

Friends  she  has  many,  yet  one  friend  is  greater, 
Yea,  we  will  give  all  the  praise  to  our  God. 

Bring  forth  the  best  robes  and  put  them  upon  her, 

Lo !  the  sun  rises  on  her  natal  day, 
Jewels  and  gold  should  adorn  her  with  honor. 

Crown  her  with  laurel  and  crown  her  with  buy. 

All  these  are  fitting,  but  more  is  her  guerdon. 
Crown  her  with  noble  lives,  lived  as  she  taught, 

Crown  her  with  duty  done,  well  borne  each  burden. 
That  God  in  our  life  work  unto  us  has  brought. 

Father  in  Heaven,  crown  all  with  thy  favor, 

Honor  her  still  as  in  all  her  past  days, 
God  of  the  Covenant!,  Infinite  Savior! 

Bless  thou  our  mother  in  all  of  her  ways. 

Mrs.  Harriet  [Thompson]  McYey,  Class  of  '58, 
read  a  paper. 

CLASS  MOTTOES. 

There  is  hand- writing  on  these  walls.  It  has  greeted 
our  home  coming.  Not  like  the  fateful  ^'  Mene, 
Mene,  Tekel,  Upharsin  '^  that  once  shook  a  palace, 
but  like  the  fair  record  of  God's  perfect  character, 
which  he  has  written,  not  only  on  the  pages  of  his 
holy  word,  but  all  over  the  earth.  He  has  told  us  to 
-write  his  statutes  and  laws  on  the  "  posts  of  our 
houses,  and  on  our  gates,  but  he  has  traced  the  beau- 
tiful mottoes  of  his  faithfulness,  love  and  truth.  His 
justice,  power  and  glory  in  the  waters  that  he  holds  in 
the  hollow  of  his  hand  and  on  the  mountains  and  hills 
that  he  weighs  in  his  balance,  and  we  find  them  in 


98  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

rainbow  colors,  arching  the  spray  of  the  cataract,  un- 
furled on  the  tinted  horizon  of  morning  and  evening, 
unfolding  in  the  petals  of  lilies  and  roses,  sparkling 
in  the  firmament  above,  and  twinkling  in  the  up- 
turned faces  of  violets  and  daises  in  the  soft  carpet 
under  our  feet/^ 

In  like  manner  the  mottoes  of  the  Alumnse  of  this 
seminary  are  fitly  reproduced  in  tasteful  designs  in 
chapel,  parlor  and  hall,  to  aid  in  making  this  place  of 
his  feet  glorious,  and  in  the  renewal  of  consecration 
vows,  and  for  memorial  stones  of  ail  the  past. 

When  the  Class  of  ^56  offered  their  prayer  motto : 
"  What  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  f ''  it  found  its  way  on 
the  beautiful  parchment  to  each  one  of  our  number, 
and  each  in  her  own  heart  knows  how  God  has 
responded,  ^^  Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do^'; 
and  when  the  Class  of  ^57  took  '^  Laoti "  for  a  watch- 
word from  their  ^^  Lord  accept  our  tenfold  offering,^ 
he  heard ;  and  has  also  taken  of  it  a  wave  offering 
from  the  altar  of  consecration  on  earth  to  the  holy  of 
holies  in  the  heavens. 

The  Class  of  ^58  are  still  an  unbrokened  band. 
Their  motto :  "  Da  mihi  intus  pulchrum  esse/'  indi- 
cates their  prayer,  "  Grant  to  me  to  be  beautiful 
within. ^^  In  granting,  the  bountiful  giver  has  made 
them  able  to  bless  the  home  circle,  the  Bethel  work, 
the  temperance  cause,  the  Nestorians,  the  freedmen 
and  the  Indians. 

The  triple  exhortation  from  the  Class  of  '59,  "  Life: 
take  it  up  bravely,  bear  it  on  patiently,  lay  it  down  tri- 
umphantly/'  reminds  us  gratefully  of  their  brave  lives, 
of  their  patient  continuance  in  well  doing,  and  of  the 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  99 

triumphant  termination  of  those  who  have  finished  the 
race. 

Our  representatives  of  '60  being  tested  by  the 
ordeal  of  fire,  recorded  '^Affliction  eementeth  the  tie/' 
and  seven  of  them  have  already  found  "  these  light 
afflictions  '^  ended  in  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal 
weight  of  glory. 

The  noble  sentiment  of  '62,  "  Labor  nov),  rest  here- 
after,'^  so  like  Jesus,  ''  who  went  about  doing  good/' 
is  suitably  followed  by  that  of  '63,  ^'  To  holy  duty  here^ 
with  loyal  hearts  bind  we  our  lives  J'  Both  remind  us 
of  their  historic  fathers  and  mothers,  whose  example 
and  training  sowed  the  seed  of  such  devoted  "  lives." 

Jesus  said,  "By  their  fruits  we  shall  know  them." 
We  know  very  few  of  those  who  added  link  after 
link  to  this  chain  during  the  successive  years,  but  we 
know  if  the  class  of  '65  have  said  '^  Dum  vivimus 
vivamus^'  (let  us  live  while  we  live),  their's  is  not  an 
aimless  life ;  and  if  the  maxim  for  '6Q  was  "  Ad  astra 
per  aspera'^  (toward  the  stars  through  difficulties), 
they  do  not  wish  to  "  be  carried  to  the  skies  on  flowery 
beds  of  ease."  And  when  we  see  over  the  door  of  the 
reading  room  ('67)  '^  libere  accipistis,  libere  date,'''  we 
know  that  those  girls  made  our  Savior's  injunction^ 
"  freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give,"  an  incentive  to 
noble  sacrifice  for  His  sake,  "  who  gave  Himself  for 
us." 

Over  the  parlor  windows  the  beautiful  motto  "  una 
fides,  unum  opus,  una  spes  "  may  be  seen,  and  we  learn 
from  it  that  the  class  of  '6S  had  one  faith,  one  work,, 
and  one  hope.  Hence  we  judge  of  all  from  the  known 
faith  and  zeal  of  a  few. 


100  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

The  central  link  in  this  quarter  centennial  chain  is 
the  prayer  motto  of  the  class  of  '69.  ^^Let  the  beauty 
of  the  Lord  our  God  he  upon  us/'  in  which  we  all 
crave  to  unite,  for  "  He  is  altogether  lovely/'  and  ^'  we 
know  that  when  he  shall  appear  we  shall  be  like 
him.'' 

The  motto  of  '70,  ^' qui  transtulit  sustenebW  (he 
who  has  brought  us  hitherto  will  sustain),  was  burned 
in  the  fire  of  April  7,  1871,  and  after  that  fearful 
night  it  had  a  significance  be^fore  unknown. 

The  ^'  quo  deus  vocat/'  whose  scarlet  letters  tell  the 
character  of  twenty-four  burden  bearers,  was  the  voice 
of  '71 ;  a  voice  tuned  into  harmony  with  God's  own, 
for  it  says  '^  whither  God  calls.'' 

"United  we  stand"  is  an  old  adage,  and  if  the  class 
of  '72  are  "united  in  the  saered  love  of  truth  and 
knowledge,  one  another  and  God/'  they  may  do  all 
things  through  Christ  strengthening  them. 

"Etteneo,  etteneor''  (I  both  hold,  and  am  held),  is 
a  delight  to  the  Christian,  when  it  is  the  Father's  hand 
that  holds;  but  the  Class  of  '73  combined  these  ex- 
pressive words  with  the  cross  in  such  a  way  as  to  re- 
mind us  that  better  than  clinging  to  Christ  is  his 
clinging  to  us. 

The  "Semper  altius''  (Always  higher)  of  the  Class 
of  '74  reveals  a  purpose  like  David's  when  he  said,  "  I 
shall  be  satisfied  when  I  awake  in  thy  likeness,"  and 
the  white  raiment  and  golden  crown  promised  "To 
him  that  overcometh  "  is  the  prize  to  which  the  Class  of 
'75  aspires. 

Our  centennial  sisters  are,  no  doubt,  very  happy  as 
they  say   to  each  other,  "His  banner  over  us  is  love/' 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  IQl 

and  those  of  ^77  with  their  ^^Age  quod  agas  "  under  a 
guiding  star,  cheer  each  other  with  this  motto,  "  Do 
what  you  can  do.^^ 

The  sentiment  adopted  in  ^78,  ^^  Omnia  ad  Dei 
gloriam  (All  to  the  glory  of  God),  was  one  of  conse- 
cration. Its  spirit  has  taken  one  to  Syria,  two  to 
Siam  and  engaged  others  in  earnest  work  in  our  own 
land. 

The  Class  of  '79  selected  "7n  inclination  yielding y 
in  principle  firm/^  from  Mary  Lyons'  oft-repeated 
words,  while  the  ^' SeeJceth  not  her  own'^  of  our 
youngest  band  is  embodied  in  Miss  Peabody's  favorite 
maxim,  "  None  of  self  and  all  of  Christ.''  Let  us  go 
from  this  place  praying  that  we  may  all  have  a  share 
in  the  blessings  promised  "  to  him  that  overcometh," 
rejoicing  that  "  his  banner  over  us  is  love,"  resolving 
to  "do  what  we  can  do,"  doing  all  to  the  glory  of 
God,  possessing  a  yielding  inclination,  a  firm  principle 
and  that  charity  that  "  seeketh  not  her  own." 

MRS.    GOW'S    LETTER. 

A  letter  from  Mrs.  Ellen  Gow  was  read  by  Miss 
Auretta  Hoyt,  Class  of  '58.  Though  married,  she  is 
still  *' Ellen  Gow,"  which  is  fortunate,  for  we  could 
never  learn  to  use  any  other  name  than  the  one  grown 
so  familiar  by  long  identification  with  seminary  life : 

MiLLBURY,  Mass.,  June  7,  1880. 

My  dear  Girls  : — Let  me  still  call  you  girls,  though  some 
of  you  now  are  wives  and  mothers ;  and  as  I  remember  that 
it  is  twenty  years  since  I  began  to  teach  at  the  seminary, 
and  nine  since  my  labors  closed  there,  the  thought  presses 
upon  me  that  "  the  days  when  we  were  young  "  have  passed 


102  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

awaj^  Yet  I  know,  that  if  I  were  to  meet  you  this  June  day 
in  body  as  I  do  in  spirit,  we  would  not  seem,  much  changed, 
for  we  should  so  go  back  to  the  past,  and  live  over  its  memo- 
ries with  such  intense  feeling,  that  you  would  forget  that  I 
am  a  middle  aged  woman,  lacking  only  four  years  of  my  half 
century,  and  that  on  your  faces  are  lines  of  care  caused  by 
life's  joys  and  sorrows.  When  my  scholars  used  to  write  the 
imaginary  history  of  "  our  class,"  and  picture  in  fancy  the  re- 
unions of  the  future^  Miss  Gow  always  figured  in  the  same 
character — the  life-long  teacher,  "  spectacles  on  her  nose  and 
a  literature  in  her  hand,"  as  Allie  Bartholomew  once  put  it 
for  the  amusement  of  the  class  of  '66.  Well,  dear  girls,  the 
spectacles  are  on  my  nose,  but  the  text  books  are  not  in  my 
hands.  As  Widow  Bedot  says,  "  You  can't  always  calculate." 
You  will  remember  I  once  said  to  some  of  you :  "  You  ought 
never  to  marry  unless  you  can  not  help  it." 

I  took  my  own  advice,  and  have  never  ceased  to  believe 
that  it  was  sound  counsel.  As  this  is  a  strictly  private  letter, 
written  to  my  own  dear  classes,  you  will  permit  me  to  be  per- 
sonal, and  tell  you  my  story  since  leaving  Oxford.  It  was  a 
great  disappointment  to  me  to  leave  the  seminary,  and  give 
up  my  loved  work  of  teaching.  One  year  was  spent  at  Dans- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  in  regaining  my  health  and  strength.  It  was  a 
happy  and  profitable  year,  to  which  I  shall  always  look  back 
with  pleasure.  The  rest  of  my  life  will  be  better  for  much 
that  I  learned  there.  The  next  three  years  were  spent  at 
home  with  my  mother  and  sisters.  They  were  years  of  little 
active  work,  for  I  was  not  strong,  but  the  duties  of  home  life, 
with  books  and  study,  filled  my  time,  and  gave  me  j)reparation 
for  the  years  of  work  that  God  was  preparing  for  me.  Then, 
came  a  call  from  Wellesley  College,  and  one  year  was  spent 
in  that  magnificent  institution.  I  would  like  to  tell  you  much 
about  it  if  time  permitted.  If  ever  you  come  to  Massachu- 
setts visit  it,  as  one  of  the  places  for  which  every  woman,  who 
loves  w^omen,  ought  to  be  thankful.  Within  its  walls  no 
trammel  is  laid  upon  woman's  education.  In  science,  art 
and  literature,  her  progress  is  only  limited  by  her  own  natu- 
ral ability.     It  is  indeed  a  college.     Four  years  ago,  on  a  June 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  103 

day,  I  closed  my  work  at  Wellesley,  and  the  next  day  found 
me  in  my  own  house.  My  husband,  Rev.  Geo.  B.  Gow,  was 
pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Middlebury,  Mass.  Two 
young  gentlemen  call  me  mother.  The  elder  is  studying  for 
the  ministry  at  the  Theological  Institution,  Newton,  Mass ; 
the  younger  graduates  at  the  Music  School  in  Pittsfield 
Mass.,  this  month,  and  in  September  will  enter  on  his  collegi- 
ate course  at  Brown  University,  Providence,  R.  I. 

During  the  last  four  years  "  my  hand  has  found  to  do," 
just  as  many  things  as  I  have  have  had  time  and  strength  to 
do.  Church  work  in  all  its  varieties,  missionary  work,  home 
and  foreign,  and  temperance  work,  added  to  my  domestic 
cares,  have  made  me  a  busy  woman. 

I  have  always  felt  and  often  expressed  my  gratitude  for  my 
Oxford  training  in  several  particulars;  especially  for  the 
power  to  organize  work  and  conduct  meetings. 

All  my  knowledge  of  Missionaries  and  mission  fields,  and 
methods  of  benevolent  work  gained  at  the  seminary,  has 
served  me  a  grand  purpose  in  my  efforts  to  arouse  interest 
in  these  great  subjects  among  woman  less  highly  favored  than 
myself  in  this  respect. 

Everybody  who  knows  me,  knows  Oxford.  The  thirteen 
years  spent  within  its  consecrated  walls,  could  not  but  make 
a  deep  and  lasting  impression  upon  my  heart. 

To  our  beloved  principal  and  all  the  other  noble  women 
who  have  labored  with  her,  I  owe  unspeakable  gratitude.  I 
shall  never  meet  nobler,  truer  women  or  more  lovely  chris- 
tian ladies,  than  those  whom  I  knew  and  loved  as  my  teachers 
in  my  school  days,  and  in  after  years  as  my  associate  teachers 
and  pupils. 

In  a  few  weeks  we  go  to  a  new  home — Brattleboro,  Ver- 
mont— the  loveliest  town  I  ever  saw.  I  should  love  to  take 
you  from  point  to  point  and  show  you  the  charming  pictures 
made  by  the  Connecticut  river  and  the  mountains  among 
which  our  beautiful  town  nestles.  Mr.  Gow  is  pastor  of  the 
First  Baptist  church.  The  church  numbers  over  five  hun- 
dred members.  Our  work  opens  before  us  in  a  way  to  make 
us  very  happy,  and  yet  fills  us  with  that  solicitude  that  those 


104  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

must  feel  who  appreciate  in  any  degree  Avhat  the  Christian 
ministry  ought  to  be.     So  much  for  myself. 

I  wish  each  of  you  could  give  me  your  story  so  fully.  If  it 
is  in  the  heart  of  any  one  of  you  to  do  so,  it  will  give  me 
great  pleasure  to  hear  from  you  personally.  And  now,  dear 
girls,  may  I  take  the  teacher's  chair  just  for  a  few  moments — 
for  the  sake  of  old  times  ?  Out  of  the  many  things  I  long  to 
say  to  you,  one  presses  upon  me  as  of  great  importance.  I 
want  to  urge  upon  you  not  to  let  yourselves  become  unedu- 
cated women. 

It  is  possible.  A  brain  may  lose  its  cunning  as  well  as  a 
hand.  Constant  thought  is  the  price  of  the  power  to  think; 
constant  study  the  price  of  the  power  to  study.  The  head 
where  thought  and  study  are  wanting,  may  do  some  very 
good  routine  work  in  the  world,  but  it  is  not  the  work  of  the 
educated  mind.  Carry  on,  if  you  can,  a  systematic  study  all 
the  time,  a  language,  an  art,  a  science,  or  studies  in  history 
and  literature.  Many  interruptions  will  come  to  you  for 
days  and  months ;  still  keep  your  books  in  sight  continually, 
and  their  presence  will  make  time.  Never  forget  the  Oxford 
art  of  making  time.  Some  of  the  young  housekeepers  and 
mothers  smile,  and  say  "  impossible ! "  I  know  what  house- 
hold and  chilclward  cares  are,  and  they  will  always  be  woman's 
first  and  noblest  calling,  and,  because  they  are,  I  want  woman 
to  realize  how  much  depends  upon  her  in  making  a  home 
where  children  may  be  truly  educated.  It  is  impossible  for 
all  to  carry  on  systematic  study,  but  we  may  all  read  some 
every  week.  Eead  books  that  make  you  think.  At  all  events 
keep  up  with  the  times,  for  the  history  now  making  in  the 
world  is  the  most  important  that  was  ever  made  since  history 
began.  As  Christians,  we  see  in  it  the  coming  of  the  kingdom 
of  Christ,  that  grand  consummation  to  which  all  things  else 
are  subservient.  By  all  means  be  a  member  of  a  woman's 
missionary  society.  If  there  is  not  one  in  your  church, 
organize  one.  Take  and  read  the  missionary  periodicals  of 
your  society.  Become  thoroughly  interested  and  well  in- 
formed in  regard  to  the  cause  of  missions,  the  greatest  work 
of  our  century,  and  you  can  not  become  intellectually  or 
spiritually  rusty  women. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  105 

Now,  dear  girls,  do  not  say  I  have  not  time  for  such  work. 
Love  it,  and  you  will  find  time  for  it.  I  am  pained  contin- 
ually in  beholding  the  useless  work  of  women,  brain  and 
fingers  taxed  to  their  utmost  in  producing  useless  stitches  and 
unnecessary  cooking.  Unnecessary  work  is  always  degrading 
to  the  person  who  does  it.  Society,  church,  state,  are  calling 
on  women  to  come  and  take  her  birth-right,  as  they  have  never 
called  before.  And  I  am  rejoiced  at  the  thought  that  the 
Oxford  girls  are  responding  to  the  call.  Not  only  in  domestic 
life,  but  in  public  benevolent  work  and  in  professional  life 
our  graduates  are  doing  work  of  which  we  may  well  be  proud. 
Good-bye,  my  dear  girls. 

Yours  affectionately, 

Ellen  Gow. 

Thalberg's  "  Home,  Sv;^eet  Home/'  as  a  piano  solo 
was  rendered  by  Miss  Lizzie  Marshall. 
Miss  Fannie  U.  Nelson,  Class  of  '70,  read 

EXTRACTS   FROM  LETTERS  FROM  THE   ALUMNA. 

Searching  among  the  papers  and  documents  that 
have  accumulated  during  these  twenty-five  years,  and 
that  mark  in  different  ways  the  history  of  our  sem- 
inary, we  come  upon  the  printed  address  delivered  by 
Rev.  Samuel  Fisher,  on  the  first  anniversary  day, 
July  17,  1856.  After  setting  forth  the  character  of 
John  Calvin  and  John  Wesley,  and  speaking  of  their 
influence  upon  education  in  the  old  world  and  the 
new,  he  comes  to  the  subject  of  female  education,  and 
speaks  as  follows : 

"The  institution,  whose  first  commencement  we 
this  day  celebrate,  stands  forth  unique  and  singular  in 
this  western  world.  Other  institutions  may  excel 
this  in  the  mere  artistical  forms  of  education,  and 
others  may  equal  it  in   mere  literary  advantages,  for 


106  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

neither  of  these  constitute  its  great  ideal.  Its  chief 
peculiarity  lies  in  the  extent  to  which  it  CDmbines  the 
intellectual  with  the  practical.  It  guides  the  hand, 
while  it  polishes  the  manners,  disciplines  the  affections 
and  develops  the  intellect.  It  unites  womanly  think- 
ing to  womanly  acting.  It  combines  in  itself  all 
those  forms  of  education  which  go  to  make  an  earnest, 
complete,  intelligent,  practical  Christian  woman.  If 
any  man  wishes  his  daughter  to  be  a  fashionable  doll, 
let  him  not  send  her  here,  we  cultivate  no  such  plants. 
If  he  wishes  her  to  shine  only  in  the  light  of  artistic 
accomplishments  let  him  not  send  her  here,  for  these 
we  cultivate  in  strict  subordination  to  another — a 
higher  ideal.  If  he  seeks  simply  to  make  her  a 
scholar,  there  are  other  institutions  where  this  can  be 
effected  as  well  as  here.  But  if  he  wishes  to  see  her 
develop  her  powers  in  the  line  of  a  true  woman^s  life ;  if 
he  covets  for  her  the  crown  of  an  earnest-minded  woman, 
inspired  with  lofty  aims,  conscious  of  power  for  good 
and  determined  to  see  it  aright ;  a  woman  whose  dis- 
ciplined head,  and  heart,  and  hand  are  all  prepared 
for  a  life  of  ennobled  Christian  action  in  any  and 
every  field  that  she  may  properly  call  her  own,  then 
let  him  send  her  here.  In  this  institution  she  is  to  be 
no  longer  a  passive  recipient  or  a  partially  developed 
flower,  but  part  of  the  active  forces  which  work  for  a 
grand  end.  She  drops  at  the  door  of  this  seminary 
the  idea  that  her  father  pays  so  much  money,  for 
which  she  is  to  receive  so  much  knowledge.  She 
enters  here  as  herself,  a  vital  element  of  this  house- 
hold. At  once  she  begins  to  occupy  the  position 
which  every  true  woman  is  to  hold  in  after  life — the 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  107 

position  of  a  power  for  good,  for  self-support,  for  the 
progress  and  elevation  of  society  and  domestic  life. 
She  who  came  here  immature  and  almost  helpless, 
goes  forth  after  the  prescribed  curriculum,  an  intelli- 
gent, refined,  self- trusting,  earnest,  well-developed 
lady.  She  is  prepared  to  nurture  and  to  bless  a  race 
of  noble  freemen.  Place  her  where  you  please,  her 
spirit  will  bless,  her  intelligence  illumine,  h6r  accom- 
plishments adorn  and  her  active  life  ennoble  and 
stimulate  the  whole  circle  within  which  she  moves. '^ 

Such  were  the  hopes  for  our  seminary,  of  one  who 
had  watched  it  through  the  first  year  of  its  life,  and 
who  knew  the  purposes  with  which  it  was  founded.  A 
quarter  of  a  century  has  passed  by,  and  from  the  old 
home  a  letter  of  invitation  has  gone  forth  to  each  of 
the  three  hundred  and  eighty-one  living  graduates, 
who  are  scattered  over  the  whole  world,  to  come  to 
the  great  home  gathering,  and  tell  of  what  the  Lord 
has  done  for  them  and  by  them  in  these  years.  With 
yearning  love  the  question  is  asked  of  each  one : 
^^  Have  you  found  the  culture  and  discipline  you  re- 
ceived from  your  seminary  life  helpful  in  the  services 
and  sacrifices  which  you  have  had  the  opportunity  to 
render  ?  Has  the  anchor  held  in  the  storm  ?  Has 
the  shield  proved  sufficient  for  all  the  fiery  darts  of 
the  wicked  ?  Has  any  part  of  the  armor  failed  in  the 
day  of  battle  f' 

From  east  and  west,  from  north  and  south,  from 
beyond  the  mountains  and  over  the  seas,  the  loving 
responses  have  come,  glad  acceptance  and  sorrowful 
regrets  when  the  invitation  must  be  declined.  These 
letters  have  brought  much  sweet  testimony  that  the 


108  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

school-day  lessons  have  not  been  forgotten,  that  the 
armor  has  been  proved  and  found  all  that  was  needed 
in  the  battle  of  life.  Some  of  them  whisper  confi- 
dences too  sacred  to  be  repeated  even  in  this  family 
circle ;  they  give  pictures  of  pleasant  homes,  where 
merry  children  play,  and  eager  youth  press  forward  to 
ward  manhood  and  womanhood ;  of  busy  school-rooms, 
of  Sabbath-school  work,  and  of  dark  corners  afar  off  in 
the  world  where  our  missionary  sisters  have  found 
their  work  ;  of  weary  hearts  that  long  for  comfort ;  of 
bereaved  homes  where  the  love  of  Jesus  has  made 
bright  "  the  valley  of  the  shadow. ^^ 

From  only  a  few  of  these  can  we  gather  extracts  to- 
day. C.  R.  G.,  of  the  Class  of  ^58,  writes  from  her 
home  in  Missouri : 

"  When  your  invitation  came  I  thought  nothing 
would  prevent  my  being  with  you  in  June,  but  I  feel 
to-day  I  must  write  you  again,  telling  that  I  fear  it 
can  not  be.  I  am  trying  to  bear  the  disappointment 
with  courage,  but  oh  ?  the  longing,  and  the  yearning 
and  the  intense  desire  to  be  once  more  gathered  in  the 
loving  embrace  of  dear  old  Alma  Mater.  ^  Have  I 
found  the  culture  and  discipline  helpful  ?  ^  you  ask. 
I  believe,  I  can  truly  say,  I  have.  I  can  trace  the 
putting  away  of  sorrow  and  unavailing  grief,  and 
taking  up  the  daily  care  for  others  as  being  better  done 
than  if  I  had  never  received  your  teachings.  Shall  I 
write  you  something  of  my  home  life  ?  We  buried 
our  brightest  hopes  four  years  ago  in  our  Millie's 
grave.  She  would,  if  living  now,  have  been  in  her 
eighteenth  year,   and   doubtless  one   of  your   Senior 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  109 

class,  for  it  was  our  intention  to  have  sent  her  to  you 
at  fifteen.  Our  boys  are  growing  tall  and  are  a  bless- 
ing, indeed.  For  the  past  year  I  have  been  their 
main  teacher.  Often  in  my  explanations  to  them  I 
am  reminded  of  the  exact  words  and  the  teacher  who 
instructed  me  at  Oxford.  I  wonder  which  you  would 
care  most  for,  quiet,  thoughtful  Albert,  or  generous, 
fun-loving  Will,  Our  baby  Kate,  six  years  old,  is 
her  father's  firm  ally,  and  inseparable  companion. 
My  own  life  flows  on  in  a  quiet  channel,  but  not  an 
unhapp)^  one,  and  I  hope  it  is  not  an  altogether  use- 
less one,  though  I  have  done  nothing  great  in  the 
world,  and  no  one,  except  a  small  number,  will  ever 
hear  of  me.^^ 

From  H.  B.  N.,  of  the  Class  of '60  : 

"How  dim  and  distant  seem  the  events  of  that  Sep- 
tember day  in  1855,  when  I  entered  the  seminary,  and 
yet  how  bright  a  spot  has  it  always  appeared.  It 
seems  to  have  been  the  only  immutable  thing  in  all 
my  life,  the  one  place  where  there  has  always  been  an 
anchor  that  held  my  freighted  bark  of  treasures,  and 
through  all  the  storms  gave  a  never  failing  sense  of 
joy.  The  very  pleasant  and  long-continued  sojourn 
at  the  seminary,  at  a  time  in  life  when  we  are  most 
awake  to  impressions,  the  very  strong  attachment  to 
the  little  circle  of  special  friends,  and  the  universal 
love  for  all  the  girls,  has  contributed  to  make  my 
seminary  life  the  one  great  figure  in  all  my  pleasant 
retrospections.  I  can  not  be  alone  in  this  feeling,  for 
I  have  yet  to  meet  the  girl  who  has  not  this  heart  at- 
tachment lor  her  Alma  Mater,  and  the  strength  of  the 


110  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

personal  friendships  in  the  circle  of  school-girl  loves 
has  never  been  set  aside  for  later  friends ;  in  truth,  the 
perpetuity  of  our  love  has  been  a  wonder  to  acquaint- 
ances who  deem  school-girPs  love  a  sickly  plant.  In 
twenty  years  we  have  missed  no  class-letter,  and  in  a 
few  days  the  little  white-winged  messengers  will  flutter 
in  at  my  door.  I  expect  them  with  the  first  birds  of 
spring.  ^^ 

One  of  the  Class  of  ^63,  after  telling  of  her  seven- 
year-old  daughter,  who,  in  the  midst  of  her  second 
reader  study,  wonders  if  she  will  ever  be  a  big  girl 
and  go  to  the  school  where  mamma  went,  closes  her 
letter  with  these  words  :  "  I  have  frequently  heard 
the  remark  that  the  Oxford  system  gives  a  girl  such  a 
self-reliance  and  assurance  that  she  is  always  mistress 
of  the  situation,  whatever  it  is.  That  may  express  it 
from  an  outside  standpoint.  We  who  have  passed 
through  know  it  is  only  an  humble  asking  and  trust- 
ing that  he  who  doth  all  things  well,  will  give  us 
strength  when  we  have  need  of  it.^^ 

S.  B.  H.,  of  the  Class  of  ^65,  writes  from  Chicago : 
"  I  have  been  thinking  since  your  invitation  came  of 
those  old  days  of  imperfect,  undisciplined  service  at 
the  seminary,  when  some  of  us  were  put  around  among 
the  wild  girls  for  ^  salt ;'  rather  unsavory  salt  some  of 
us  were.  Our  service  was  not  much  better  than  that 
of  the  two  milch  kine  to  whom  was  entrusted  the 
bearing  of  the  ark  back  to  Israel.  They  took  it, 
^  lowing  as  they  went  -,  yet  they  went,  and  '  they  took 
the  straight  way  to  the  way  of  Beth-shemeth,'  and 
'  turned  not  aside  to  the  right  hand  nor  to  the  left.^     At 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  m 

the  end  of  that  way  there  was  an  altar  awaiting  them, 
upon  which  they  were  to  be  offered  as  a  burnt-offer- 
ing unto  the  Lord.  So,  I  think,  it  was  with  many  of 
us  ;  we  did  not  understand  very  well  the  missionary 
spirit  of  which  we  heard  so  much,  but  we  did  as  we 
were  told  as  well  as  we  could,  lowing  as  we  went,  but 
now  God  hath  wrought  out  in  us  that  spirit  which 
our  teachers  longed  to  see,  so  that  we  '  present  our 
bodies  a  living  sacrifice,  which  is  our  reasonable  ser- 
vice/ It  seemed  unreasonable  then,  but  we  were  such 
clay,  unmolded,  unbaked.^'  ^ 

From  her  invalid  room  at  Mr.  Hinkle's,  where  she 
has  found  a  *^  chamber  of  peace,^^  F.  E.,  of  the  Class 
of  ^6S,  sends  her  words  of  love.  "Cheerfully  do  I 
give  my  testimony  in  behalf  of  the  seminary,  for  in  its 
walls  was  laid  the  foundation  of  the  structure  which 
has  been  building  all  these  years;  though  the  work 
has  been  delayed  sometimes,  when  faith  and  love 
seemed  weak,  and  there  are  many  flaws,  still  I  trust 
the  dedication  was  to  him,  who  knoweth  all  our  weak- 
nesses, and  who  will  strengthen  the  weak  places,  so 
that  when  life  is  finished  and  the  last  stone  laid,  he 
may  not  deem  it  altogether  unworthy  of  acceptance.^^ 

Coming  down  to  a  later  date,  we  will  only  take  time 
for  one  more  extract  from  a  letter  from  A.  H.  T.,  of  the 
Class  of  ^78.  Her  husband  has  received  a  government 
appointment  in  Dakota  Territory,  and  she  will  join  him 
there  later  in  the  summer.  She  speaks  gratefully  of 
the  rich  blessings,  both  temporal  and  spiritual,  with 
which  these  two  years  have  been  filled,  and  continues  : 
"  In  his  infinite  goodness,  God  has  given  me  a  noble 


112  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Christian  husband,  who  helps  me  more  than  I  can  tell 
in  living  near  to  God.  I  have  not  had  much  mis- 
sionary work  to  do  yet,  but  from  what  my  husband 
writes  of  Grand  Forks,  I  do  not  know  but  I  shall 
have  abundant  opportunity  in  the  future.  Grand 
Forks  is  a  comparatively  new  place,  with  a  population 
of  eighteen  hundred,  consisting  principally  of  for- 
eigners and  speculating  Americans.  Sunday  is  one 
of  the  busiest  days  of  the  week  with  merchants  and 
farmers,  and  a  gala  day  with  others.  Horse-racing 
in  the  streets  of  the  town  is  one  of  the  Sabbath-day 
privileges.  There  is  but  one  Protestant  church,  occu- 
pied by  the  Methodists  and  Presbyterians  alternately. 
The  Catholics  seem  to  have  the  strongest  foothold. 
We  do  not  expect  to  make  a  permanent  home  there, 
and  had  it  not  been  a  subject  of  such  earnest  prayer 
with  both  of  us,  I  might  perhaps  shrink  from  going 
even  for  a  year  or  two.  But  knowing  that  it  is 
'  God's  own  hand  that  leadeth  me,'  that  he  has  some 
purpose  in  our  going,  some  work  perchance  for  us  to 
do,  I  can  not  shrink  from  it  in  the  least.  On  the  con- 
trary, I  am  impatient  to  go,  and  shall  join  my  husband 
in  that  little  village  just  as  happily  and  cheerfully  as 
I  went  with  him  to  Washington  City,  a  few  short 
month  ago.'' 

A  thrill  ran  through  our  hearts  as  Miss  Peabody 
announced  the  next  paper,  to  be  read  by  Miss  Mary 
A.  Clark,  of  the  graduating  class,  then  under  appoint- 
ment as  a  missionary  to  Tabriz,  Persia,  and  now  upon 
her  chosen  field  of  life-work. 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  II3 

EXTRACTS  FROM  LETTERS  FROM  MISSIONARIES. 

We  can  not  bring  messages  to-day  from  all  the 
nearly  forty  that  are  numbered  in  our  missionary  list, 
but  we  must  take  time  for  a  few  of  these  words  that 
have  come  from  afar,  even  from  the  uttermost  parts 
of  the  world,  where  we  are  sure  that  we  are  not  for- 
gotten to-day. 

Miss  Harriet  N.  Eastman,  of  the  Class  of  '59,  now 
of  the  Baptist  mission  at  Toungoo,  Burmah,  writes : 

"  For  myself,  after  my  school  days  were  ended,  I 
spent  eleven  years  as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools 
of  Illinois  and  Michigan.  Then  I  returned  to  my 
Alma  Mater  and  spent  one  year  there  as  a  teacher,  a 
year  for  which  I  shall  never  cease  to  be  grateful.  It 
was  there  that  I  decided,  that,  the  Lord  permitting,  I 
would  devote  the  remainder  of  my  life  ta  foreign  mis- 
sion work,  a  decision  which  it  took  me  many  years  to 
reach.  It  is  seven  years  since  I  first  set  foot  in  Toun- 
goo; during  that  time  I  have  left  the  Toungoo  dis- 
trict but  twice,  though  I  have  made  an  annual  journey 
on  horseback  in  the  district,  to  the  Karen  association. 
My  time  has  usually  been  fully  occupied  with  the 
school  for  Karen  boys  and  girls  in  the  city,  but  for 
the  past  year  Miss  Ambrose  and  myself  have  had  the 
entire  charge  of  Byhai  Karen  mission,  including  some 
fifty  churches  and  nearly  ten  thousand  members.  It 
is  a  fearful  responsibility,  but  ^  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord 
helped  us.'  My  work  does  not  bring  me  into  such 
direct   contact   with   the   heathen    as    I    had   hoped. 


114  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Those  who  are  gathered  into  our  school  already  know 
something  of  the  way  of  life,  and  in  my  journeys  into 
the  jungles  I  have  been  preceded  by  native  Christians 
and  older  missionaries.  My  chief  work  has  been 
among  young  people,  and  those  favorably  disposed  to 
Christianity,  endeavoring  to  lead  them  to  lead  lives  of 
faith  in  the  Son  of  God,  and  to  fit  them  to  be  teachers 
of  their  own  people. 

Our  school  has  been  in  existence  for  eight  years. 
Nearly  every  year  it  has  been  our  privilege  to  witness 
the  baptism  of  some  of  our  pupils.  Quite  a  staff  of 
teachers  has  already  been  sent  out.  We  have  had 
some  sore  trials  from  famine,  pestilence,  and  once  the 
insubordination  of  one  of  our  native  teachers,  whom 
I  was  obliged  to  dismiss.  The  churches  and  native 
pastors  are  a  great  comfort  and  a  great  care.  Numer- 
ous questions  are  submitted  to  me  for  decision ;  ques- 
tions of  doctrine,  of  discipline,  of  marriage  and  di- 
vorce, of  temperance  and  morals.  The  village  pastors 
are  also  the  village  doctors,  and  I  am  expected  to  keep 
constantly  on  hand  a  full  supply  of  medicines  both  to 
sell  and  give  away,  especially  the  latter.  I  am  also 
expected  to  be  consulting  physician  to  all  these  village 
doctors,  with  ability  to  investigate  and  name  the  most 
obsure  diseases,  and  prescribe  the  proper  remedies  on 
the  shortest  notice.  I  try  to  bear  these  responsibili- 
ties, to  which  I  feel  so  unequal,  with  cheerful  confi- 
dence, that  he  who  has  laid  them  upon  me  will  give 
the  needed  strength  and  wisdom.  When  you  gather 
for  your  reunion  we  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  our  rainy 
season.  Pray  for  us  that  if  it  be  the  Lord's  will  we 
may  be  spared  another  visitation  of  the  pestilence ; 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  II5 

but  far  more  that  we  and  our  native  helpers  may  be 
wise  in  winning  souls  to  Christ,  and  in  training  up  a 
people  for  him.  May  our  Alma  Mater  continue  to  be 
greatly  blessed  and  to  be  a  great  blessing.  I  shall 
never  cease  to  be  grateful  for  her  influence  upon  my 
own  life  and  character.  May  we  who  have  been  sur- 
rounded with  Christian  influences  from  our  infancy 
prize  our  birthright,  and  each  perform  faithfully  her 
part  in  bringing  the  world  to  Christ/^ 

Anna  [Turner]  Morgan,  of  the  Class  of  ^75,  is  con- 
nected with  the  Baptist  mission  at  Kurnool,  Madras. 
She  writes  May  5th :  "  The  letter  from  our  Alma 
Mater  has  reached  me  in  my  far  away  home.  I  am 
glad  that  so  many  of  you  will  have  the  privilege  of 
meeting  together  to  talk  of  the  happy  years  spent  at 
the  seminary,  and  of  the  goodness  of  God  in  caring  for 
each  one  since  we  have  been  separated  so  far  from  one 
another.  I  long  to  be  with  you,  but  I  know  that  many 
prayers  will  be  offered  up  for  the  absent  ones,  and  I 
trust  that  I  shall  receive  a  blessing  in  answer  to  those 
prayers.  It  was  at  our  seminary  home  that  I  yielded 
my  heart  to  Christ,  and  the  Christian  instruction  and 
help  that  I  received  during  the  three  years  that  I 
spent  there,  have  been  a  great  blessing  to  me.  We 
have  just  entered  upon  what  I  trust  will  be  our  life 
work,  and  we  find  here  a  great  field  for  usefulness. 
May  our  father  give  us  strength  and  grace  to  labor 
faithfully  for  him  in  this  dark  land.  We  need  your 
prayers  and  sympathy.  We  are  alone  at  this  station, 
Kurnool,  without  a  knowledge  of  the  language.  Yet 
we  are  not  alone,  for  God  is  with  us,  and  his  faithful- 


116  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

ness  in  caring  for  us  in  the  past,  make  us  more  willing 
to  trust  him  for  the  future.  Our  dear  little  Kuth,  the 
^  class  baby/  is  twenty  months  old,  and  she  is  much 
company  and  comfort  for  us.  I  hope  she  may  some- 
time find  a  home  at  the  seminary.  I  trust  that  you 
will  have  a  happy  reunion,  and  that  those  of  us  who 
can  not  be  present  will  be  favored  with  a  report.  How 
pleasant  it  is  that  on  your  return  you  find  Miss  Pea- 
body  and  Miss  Jessup  still  in  their  places.  I  hope 
they  may  be  spared  yet  many  more  years." 

A  letter  has  been  received,  dated  March  17,  from 
Jennie  Dawes  Shedd,  of  the  Class  of  '58,  from  Oroo- 
miah,  Persia.  It  was  an  acknowledgment  of  an 
offering  sent  by  the  school  for  the  famine  sufferers. 
Her  work  this  winter  has  been  largely  in  providing 
for  these  sufferers,  and  she  gives  a  touching  report  of 
the  generous  self-sacrifice  of  the  native  Christians,  of 
whom  she  says  that,  "  In  deep  poverty  they  have 
abounded  unto  the  riches  of  liberality."  May  this  dis- 
tributing of  bread  to  the  hungry,  which  has  occupied 
the  time  of  so  many  of  our  missionaries  lately,  open 
the  way  for  the  offering  of  the  ^^  bread  of  life,"  which 
can  satisfy  hungry  souls. 

We  hear  pleasant  reports  from  Mrs.  Sarah  [Utley] 
Woodin,  at  Foochow ;  Miss  Diament,  at  Kalgan, 
China ;  Mary  [Hicks]  Shaw,  at  Tung  Chow ;  Mary 
Barr,  alone  at  the  head  of  the  school  at  Peking;  Mrs. 
Abbie  [Burgess]  Hume,  of  Ahmednugger,  India,  is  re- 
ported in  delicate  health.  Mary  [Allen]  Whipple,  of 
the  Class  of  '78,  has  visited  us  lately,  and  is  now  on 
her  return  journey  to  Tabriz,  with  her  husband  and 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  117 

little  Mildred,  ready  for  whatever  work  the  master  has 
waiting  for  them. 

Miss  Mary  Hartwell  left  us  less  than  a  year  ago  to 
join  the  mission  at  Bangkok.  The  Presbytery  of 
Bellefontaine,  in  this  State,  has  assumed  her  support, 
and  her  letters  to  the  ladies  of  that  society  have 
awakened  great  interest.  In  her  last  letter  to  us  she 
speaks  of  the  proposed  visit  of  the  King  of  Siam  to 
this  country,  and  expresses  the  wish  that  his  journey 
may  result  in  benefits  to  the  educational  institutions 
of  Siam.  She  says,  "  It  is  no  romance  t©  direct  these 
people  rightly,  but  requires  patient,  faithful,  continual 
effort.  One  ought  to  know  how  to  do  almost  every- 
thing in  order  to  be  a  perfect  missionary ;  but  if  there 
is  a  willingness  to  learn,  much  may  be  acquired  on  the 
field.  The  gentlemen  who  go  to  foreign  countries 
have  to  build  houses,  run  printing  presses  and  do  a 
hundred  things  that  ministers  never  dream  of,  and  so 
it  is  with  lady  missionaries,  tao.  The  people  know 
absolutely  nothing  of  our  ways  until  taught." 

Myra  [Calhoun]  Longfellow,  of  the  Class  of '76  has 
written  many  interesting  things  about  her  work  among 
the  Indians,  at  Fort  Berthold,  Dacotah  Territory. 
Previous  to  her  marriage  she  was  a  teacher  under  the 
appointment  of  the  American  Board.  She  speaks  of 
the  difficulty  of  mastering  the  language,  with  no  inter- 
preters and  only  a  very  imperfect  dictionary ;  "  When 
I  tried  to  use  a  word  from  the  dictionary  my  tongue 
either  failed  in  the  peculiar  smoothness  necessary,  or 
I  learned  that  the  word  used  in  that  sense  was  obso- 
lete ;  and  this  would   call  forth  expressions  of  coun- 


118  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

tenance  that  soon  shook  my  faith  in  the  dictionary.'' 
She  Avas  the  first  woman  who  had  ever  tried  to  learn 
the  Gros  Ventres  language,  which  is  used  by  some  ot 
the  Indians  of  that  region.  She  is  not  now  connected 
with  the  Board,  but  with  her  husband  is  trying  to 
exert  a  Christian  influence  and  to  assist  the  mission- 
aries in  various  ways.  Her  sister,  Emma  [Calhoun] 
Hall,  of  the  Class  of  '71,  is  still  connected  with  the 
mission  and  doing  good  service. 

Our  three  missionary  girls  of  the  Class  of  '78  have 
not  failed  to  send  their  greetings. 

Mary  Campbell  describes  the  home  in  the  Laos 
land,  which  she  has  already  learned  to  love:  '^  Our 
home  is  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  a  neat,  comfort- 
able house,  a  pretty  yard  brightened  with  a  few  home 
flowers,  magnolias,  century  plants  and  other  tropical 
plants ;  a  vegetable  garden  which  almost  supplies  our- 
selves and  the  school,  and  a  number  of  fruit  trees. 
A  row  of  trees  line  the  bank  of  the  river,  breaking 
the  glare,  but  leaving  a  pretty  view.  Work  is  begun 
on  the  school  lot  adjoining  us,  but  when  I  tell  you 
that  it  is  nearly  eight  years  since  the  foundations  of 
the  two  mission  houses  were  laid,  and  neither  of  them 
is  finished,  you  will  not  think  it  strange  if  our  new 
home  is  not  finished  for  three  or  four  years.  The 
Siamese  workmen  are  very  slow,  each  one  has  to  be 
told  how  to  work,  and  constantly  watched.  All  eyes 
seem  to  be  turned  with  interest  to  our  school.  They 
think  it  strange  that  we  should  be  willing  to  come 
here  just  to  teach.  We  want,  in  a  few  years,  to  show 
them  a  model  Laos  woman,  who  has  not  only  a  book 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  119 

education,  but  can  weave  and  spin,  and  keep  herself 
and  her  home  neat  and  clean ;  but  above  all  we  want 
to  show  them  what  lovely  true  women  our  Christian 
religion  will  make  them.  The  school  has  nearly 
doubled  itself,  now  numbering  twenty-five,  and  we 
hear  of  others  from  neighboring  villages  who  are 
anxious  to  attend.  We  are  preparing  to  start  to- 
morrow on  a  recreation  tour  to  the  mountains.  We 
would  be  a  strange  sight  at  home,  no  doubt,  each  one 
perched  upon  an  elephant,  with  one  or  two  following 
with  our  provisions,  etc.  We  shall  go  north  about 
sixty  miles  and  visit  a  large  cave,  very  sacred  to  these 
people.  We  shall  pitch  our  tents  at  night ;  in  the  day 
fish,  go  on  deer  hunts,  geological  and  botanical  expe- 
ditions, and  come  home  ready  for  earnest,  hard  work. 
Will  you  join  us  in  praying  that  we  may  be  able  to 
do  this  work  well,  having  the  wisdom  of  God  to 
guide  us,  and  that  while  we  are  working  here,  and 
you  at  home,  our  one  object  may  be  ^  All  things  to  the 
glory  of  God  \''' 

Her  class-mate  and  companion,  Edna  Cole,  de- 
scribes a  Saturday  evening  ride  on  horseback.  "  We 
left  home  a  little  before  sunset  and  went  over  into  the 
city.  The  clean,  narrow  streets,  with  their  tiny  mar- 
ket stalls  on  either  side,  present  a  strange  scene. 
These  stalls  hang  full  of  bright-colored  clothes  and 
many  queer  things.  As  we  rode  along  they  were 
being  closed,  and  the  women  in  their  gay  dresses  and 
scarfs  were  folding  and  packing  all  the  things  in 
baskets,  to  carry  them  home  on  their  shoulders. 
Young  men  were  lounging  by  the  way,  or,  with  con- 
scious looks,  starting  to  call  on  their  young  friends 


120  WESTERN    FEMALE   SEMINARY. 

Yellow-robed  priests  were  seen  ou  their  way  to  some 
temple  for  their  evening  worship.  We  saw  China- 
men, Burmese  and  Indians,  each  in  their  own  peculiar 
style  of  dress,  so  strange  and  fascinating.  But  ex- 
celling all  in  beauty,  is  this  land  with  its  tropical 
vegetation,  and  to-night  it  seemed  more  lovely  than 
ever,  with  the  dark  purple  mountains  for  back-ground, 
and  the  wondrous  trees  all  around  us;  the  graceful 
bending  bamboo,  the  feathery  tamarind,  the  singular 
cocoanut,  beetle  and  palm  trees,  great  old  trees  with 
gnarled  and  subdivided  trunks,  dead  trees  covered 
with  the  richest  vines,  the  banyan  trees  by  the  water's 
edge,  and  many,  many  others,  all  perfect  in  beauty. 
Siam  is  a  lovely  land,  and  there  are  many  vacant 
places  where  workers  are  needed.  We  want  them. 
We  want  2/oit.     Come.'' 

Fannie  Cundall,  the  last  one  of  our  number  to  join 
the  band  of  foreign  workers,  has  found  her  place  at 
the  Female  Seminary,  Tripoli,  Syria.  Her  letters  give 
us  glimpses  of  Mt.  Lebanon  with  its  snowy  summit, 
and  of  walks  and  rides  through  the  orange  gardens 
and  along  the  shady  lanes  of  Tripoli.  She  gives  a 
little  incident  of  one  of  these  rambles  which  we  can 
all  appreciate  :  ^^I  was  sitting  by  the  river  with  sev- 
eral of  the  school  girls  around  me,  when  two  Moslem 
women  came  and  sat  down  by  me,  and  commenced 
asking  the  girls  questions  about  me,  who  I  was,  where 
from ;  then  one  of  them  remarked,  ^  She  must  be  a 
king's  daughter.'  Oh!  how  I  wished,  when  I  was 
told  the  remark,  that  my  tongue  was  loosed,  and  that^ 
in  their  language,  I  might  tell  them  of  Christ  Jesus^ 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  121 

the  king  of  kings,  and  how  we  might  all  be  kings' 
daughters,  and  made  meet  for  each  high  honor  by  the 
blood  that  '  cleanseth  from  all  sin/  '^ 

Miss  Candace  Lhamon  read  her  classmate's  poem 
upon  the  class  motto,  which  was  gracefully  entwined 
about  a  crescent,  beneath  a  star. 

AGE  QUOD  AGASi 

WRITTEN  BY  MISS  MARY  N.  M'CRAE,  CLASS  OF  77. 

"The  crescent  expressive  of  labor  unfinished, 
Of  increase  in  all  things  most  noble  and  sweet ; 
The  star,  in  its  far  off  perfection  of  beauty, 
The  type  of  that  work  in  its  fullness  complete," 

Three  years  ago  we  thirteen  stood  together 

Happy,  with  thoughts  of  the  work  we  had  done ; 
Sad,  as  we  spoke  of  the  parting  before  us ; 

Eager  with  hopes  for  the  hfe  just  begun. 
Through  busy  years  we  had  journeyed  together, 

Closely  our  hfe-threads  were  wrought  in  one  strand; 
Then  we  unclasped  hands  and  parted  forever, 

Each  bearing  with  her  the  Lord's  great  command. 

What  have  these  years  brought  to  you,  0  my  sisters? 

Have  they  been  bright  with  the  gladness  of  life  ? 
What  do  they  count  in  the  work  for  the  master  ? 

What  have  they  wrought  in  the  world's  weary  strife  ? 
What  have  you  done  in  the  harvests  so  golden  ? 

How  many  sheaves  have  you  brought  to  his  feet? 
How  many  times  have  you  tasted  his  manna? 

How  often  drank  of  the  w^ater  so  sw^eet  ? 

How  many  promises  have  you  found  faithful  ? 

How  many  prayers  has  his  mercy  fulfilled? 
How  many  times  in  the  heart's  weary  tempest 

Has  a  sweet  voice  the  wild  element  stilled  ? 
Has  he  e'er  failed  you  when  all  else  seemed  faithless  ? 

Has  he  refused  to  give  ear  to  your  cry  ? 
Has  his  word  proved  a  sure  guide  in  the  journey 

Unto  the  mansions  he  promised  on  high_? 


122  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Look  to  the  star  of  his  love,  O  my  sisters' 

Look,  till  the  heaven  above  you  grows  thin. 
Look  till  your  faith  breaks  the  severing  curtain, 

To  the  bright  heaven  of  heavens  look  in. 
Open  your  eyes  to  the  joy  set  before  you ; 

Open  your  hearts  to  the  warmth  of  his  sun ; 
Kindle  your  lamps  in  the  rays  of  his  glory ; 

Strengthen  yourselves  for  the  race  yet  to  run. 

Let  not  the  clouds  of  doubt  hide  the  bright  vision, 

Loose  not  the  cord  that  has  bound  you  to  him, 
Turn  not  your  eyes  from  the  star  of  the  morning. 

Lest  the  fair  gleam  of  your  crowns  should  grow  dim. 
We  can  not  shine  if  the  world  so  beguiling. 

Hide  our  young  crescent  away  from  our  sun. 
We  may  not  sleep  else  the  Master  at  coming 

May  find  the  work  he  has  given  undone. 

Numberless  times  has  the  "  still,  small  voice  "  spoken, 

Through  the  soft  rays  of  the  crescent  above, 
Bidding  us  "  Do  what  we  could  "  in  his  service, 

Giving  assurance  of  heavenly  love. 
Chiding,  sometimes,  for  our  doubtings  and  fearings. 

Teaching  us  lessons  of  wisdom  divine, 
Saying,  "  Go  onward,  grow  upward,  grow  brighter. 

Till  in  the  Kingdom  of  Glory  you  shine." 

Then  let  us  work  till  the  Master's  appearing, 
Do  with  our  might  what  our  hands  find  to  do, 
"  Age  quod  Agas  "  is  all  he  requireth. 
Promising  ever  our  strength  to  renew. 
Then,  when  the  stars  of  our  lives  have  grown  perfect, 
From  the  White  Throne  will  our  Lord's  hand  reach 
down. 
Gather  them  up  for  his  own  righteous  glory, 
Set  them  as  jewels  to  shine  in  his  crown. 

The  full  cup  now  could  but  overflow  iu 

"  Bring  forth  the  royal  diadem 
And  crown  him  Lord  of  all," 
which  was  sung. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  123 

Eev.  Dr.  Kumler,  president  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees, with  face  and  voice  revealing  the  deep  emotions 
of  this  sublime  hour,  fittingly  closed  the  exercises. 

DR.  KUMLER'S  ADDRESS. 

After  listening  to  these  cordial  and  tearful  greet- 
ings, these  poetic  effusions,  these  thrilling  chronicles, 
and  these  precious  and  tender  memories  of  the  past, 
and  learning  that  much  has  been  left  out  for  want  of 
time,  I  regret  that  this  graceful  flow  of  womanly  elo- 
quence should  be  arrested  by  anything  that  I  can  say. 
While  listening  to  this  story  that  began  in  1855,  my 
mind  recurs  to  the  struggles  that  immediately  pre- 
ceded that  date.  The  days  of  darkness,  doubt,  and 
conflict  seemed  over  when  on  this  spot,  twenty-five 
years  ago,  this  institution  was  opened  to  receive  as 
many  of  the  daughters  of  the  land  as  it  could  accom- 
modate. That  seemed  a  day  of  triumph,  but  like 
every  triumph  worth  having — it  had  its  cost.  "While 
I  claim  to  have  had  no  special  participation  in  the 
sacrifices,  struggles,  tears  and  prayers  which  attended 
the  origin  of  this  institution,  yet  I  was  a  '^  looker  on 
in  Venice  ^'  from  the  first.  I  was  personally  conver- 
sant with  those  who  cherished  the  germ  of  this  goodly 
tree,  for  years  before  it  appeared  above  the  ground. 
I  was  made  aware  in  my  father's  house  and  at  my 
pastor's  study,  of  the  prayerful  anxiety  that  attended 
its  unfolding.  I  was  present  on  the  very  night,  which 
was  a  sleepless  one,  when  the  assurance  was  reached 
that  what  had  been  only  a  project,  was  to  be  a  reality. 

The  |5,000  subscriptions  of  several  parties  here  at 
Oxford,  some  of  whom  are  with  us  to-day,  but  some 


124  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

have  fallen  asleep,  needed  only  that  of  Mr.  Gabriel 
Tichnor  to  assure  success.  The  original  projectors  of 
the  enterprise  on  the  night  just  referred  to,  laid  be- 
fore Mr.  Tichnor  the  full  plan  of  the  new  Mt.  Hol- 
yoke  of  the  West.  The  appeal  was  successful,  and 
the  anxiety  that  drove  sleep  from  the  first  half  of  the 
night,  was  followed  by  a  joy  that  was  almost  as 
effective  in  chasing  slumber  from  the  other  half.  He 
who  had  been  the  soul  of  the  movement  now  felt  war- 
ranted in  making  public  his  audacious  undertaking. 
Such  was  the  high  standard  of  scholarship  prescribed 
for  the  seminary,  the  novel  methods  of  its  internal 
arrangements,  and  the  grandeur  of  all  its  proportions, 
that  no  one  would  have  thought  of  attempting  their 
realization  who  was  not  an  enthusiast.  Such  was  the 
magnitude  of  the  obstructions  that  continually  con- 
fronted the  movenrent,  that  the  existence  of  the  insti- 
tution to-day  is  largely  due  to  the  tireless  energy  and 
indomitable  purpose  of  the  first  president  of  its  board 
of  trustees.  The  recitals  to  which  we  have  listened 
to-day  are  an  ample  vindication  of  the  wisdom  of  his 
policy.  The  memory  of  those  days  twenty-five  years 
ago  suggests  the  sacred  words,  '^  Our  fathers  have 
labored  and  we  have  entered  into  their  labors.'^ 
When  I  think  of  the  early  struggles  attending  the  en- 
terprise, the  ever-recurring  obstacles  that  came  up ; 
the  unswerving  devotion  of  friends  ready  to  make  any 
sacrifice  to  ensure  its  success ;  when  I  think  of  the 
impulse  it  gave  to  the  cause  of  female  education,  and 
to  the  establishment  of  similar  institutions  throughout 
the  West ;  when  I  think  of  the  financial  straits,  the 
fire,  the  pestilence  and  the  fire  again  that  seemed  to 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  125 

combine  to  set  it  back,  but  which  under  God  were 
made  only  to  set  it  forward  ;  when  I  think  of  the 
hundreds  and  hundreds  of  women  who  have  enjoyed 
its  mental  and  moral  culture,  and  have  received  its 
hallowed  impress  and  have  gone  forth  prepared  to 
pccupy  and  adorn  the  high  position  to  which  woman 
is  called;  when  I  think  of  the  homes  it  has  blessed 
with  light  and  joy,  the  hundreds  of  teachers  it  has  sent 
out  in  every  direction  to  public  and  private  schools, 
the  multitude  of  home  missionary  fields,  which  it  has 
reinforced  with  rare  efficiency  and  of  the  forty  laborers 
on  foreign  shores,  which  it  equipped  and  trained  for 
the  Master's  service;  when  I  think  of  the  divine  hand 
which  so  signally  guided  in  the  selection  of  those  who 
should  conduct  its  instruction  and  internal  govern- 
ment ;  when  I  think  of  the  sacred  scenes  that  have 
transpired  here  under  the  outpouring  of  the  holy 
ghost,  of  the  souls  that  have  been  born  again  here  of 
the  new  spirit  of  consecration  to  the  Master  that  has 
been  imbibed  here,  I  must  say  "  It  is  the  Lord^s  doing, 
and  it  is  marvelous  in  our  eyes.^^ 

Those  who  planned,  and  prayed,  and  labored  for  this 
school  have  wrought  more  grandly  than  they  thought. 
It  was  the  Lord^s  doing,  while  we  gratefully  recognize 
the  human  channels  through  which  the  blessings 
have  flowed.  We  can  not  help  but  trace  them  back 
to  the  one  great  fountain  whence  all  our  blessings 
flow.  While  the  saying  holds  good  in  the  history  of 
this  seminary,  "He  that  goeth  forth  weeping,  bear- 
ing precious  seed,  shall  doubtless  oome  again  with  re- 
ioicing,  bringing  his  sheaves  with  him  ; ''  yet  another 
saying    is  almost  reversed  that  ^'  One  soweth  and  an- 


126  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

other  reapeth/'  for  so  rapidly  has  God  unfolded  its 
fraitfulness  that  the  sower  has  overtaken  the  reaper. 
It  is  not  common  that  great  benefactors  see  the  fruit 
of  their  labor  at  once.  I  heard  one  of  the  early 
donors  to  the  seminary  say  before  the  close  of  its  first 
decade,  that  the  money  he  gave  to  it  was  the  best  in- 
vestment he  ever  made.  We  are  spending  ten  times 
as  much  money  on  our  young  men  to  fit  them  for  their 
ministerial  work,  and  yet  I  heard  one  of  our  venera- 
ble foreign  missionaries  give  it  as  his  deliberate  judg- 
ment that  the  women,  taken  individually,  were  more 
efficient  for  good  on  the  foreign  field  than  the  men. 
It  would  be  hard  to  avoid  the  conclusion  that  the 
investments  made  in  this  school,  which  has  sent  out 
an  average  of  about  two  persons  per  year  to  the  for- 
eign field,  besides  its  hundreds  to  scarcely,  if  any,  less 
valuable  services  in  this  country,  yields  the  very 
largest  dividends  of  all  money  bestowed  for  educa- 
tional purposes. 

We  are  all  inheritors  of  the  past.  Those  who  have 
labored  in  any  way  for  this  school  have  wrought  for 
us,  and  we  have  entered  into  their  labors.  Let  us 
bear  in  mind  that  the  recipients  of  such  privileges 
are  also  the  recipients  of  corresponding  responsibili- 
ties. "  Freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give."  We 
are  the  heirs  of  the  fruitful  past,  and  hold  what  we 
have  for  generations  to  come.  Let  us  come  into  sym- 
pathy with  the  wise  and  good  who  have  wrought  for 
us,  and  let  us  pay  over  to  others  in  grateful  spirit  and 
with  interest  what  we  have  received.  And  as  each 
advance  makes  a  new  advance  easier,  let  us  resolve, 
under   God's  blessing,  to    make  the    history  of  the 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  127 

"  Western  ^^  for  the  next  twenty-five  years  a  becoming 
advance  upon  the  past.  We  have  heard  much  to-day 
of  the  noble  part  taken  by  the  fathers  in  the  establish- 
ment of  this  institution,  and  I  have  been  forcibly 
reminded  of  what  is  said  to  have  occurred  when  on  a 
certain  occasion  the  hardships  borne  by  the  pilgrim 
fathers  was  elaborated,  a  woman  popped  up  and  in- 
quired, ^'  What  of  our  pilgrim  mothers  ?  They  had  to 
bear  all  this,  and  the  pilgrim  fathers  besides^  If  the 
true  history  of  this  school  could  be  written,  I  doubt 
not  that  it  would  be  found  to  be  more  the  fruits  of 
woman^s  prayers  and  plans  and  sacrifices  and  appeals 
than  man^s,  and  it  would  be  found  that  most  of  the 
burdens  have  had  to  be  borne  by  her,  and  the  reluc- 
tant consent  of  the  men  besides.  Daughters  of  the 
Western,  gathered  in  this  hallowed  place,  refresh  your 
souls  with  the  precious  memories  of  the  past ;  remem- 
ber the  noble  benefactors  of  this  school,  remember  the 
faithful  band  of  self-denying  teachers  who  wrought 
for  you.  When  Mt.  Holyoke  celebrated  her  twenty- 
fifth  anniversary,  Mary  Lyon  was  not  with  then^. 
The  king  had  called  her  home.  Fail  not  to  be  thank- 
ful to-day  that  he  who  so  signally  guided  in  the 
selection  of  our  principal  has  spared  her  to  join  with 
us  in  these  festivities,  over  which,  if  it  were  ever 
right  for  mortal  to  be  proud,  she  might  well  be,  but 
who,  taught  of  the  spirit,  suffers  no  thought  of  self, 
but  only  explains,  "  Behold,  what  hath  God  wrought." 

Dr.  Kumler  closed  his  address  by  reading  a  letter 
from  Dr.  Henry  A.  Nelson,  a  former  president  of  the 
board  of  trustees  for  many  years. 


128  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

DR.  NELSON'S  LETTER. 

Geneva,  N.  Y.,  April  7,  1880. 

My  Dear  Brother  Kumler  :  I  have  lately  been 
taking  much  pleasure  in  living  over  again  some  of  the 
past  years  by  reading  letters  of  my  dear  wife  to  me, 
and  my  letters  to  her,  during  my  absences  from  her  in 
those  years.  Among  the  letters  I  fell,  last  evening, 
upon  one  dated  "  Western  Female  Seminary,  Oxford, 
Ohio,  July  14,  1858.'^  That  was  my  first  visit  to  the 
"Western,^^  and  my  first  impressions  are  given  in  the 
following  sentences :  ^'  The  location  of  this  institution 
is  very  beautiful ;  its  surroundings  exceedingly  so.  I 
have  greatly  enjoyed  the  exercises  to-day.  Natural- 
ness and  thoroughness  are  the  characteristics  which 
strike  me  as  most  obvious." 

Probably  most  of  the  young  women  to  whom  the 
trustees  will  give  diplomas  at  the  next  anniversary 
have  been  born  since  I  wrote  those  sentences.  They 
constitute  the  23d  class  that  has  been  graduated  since 
that  day.  The  building  in  which  I  wrote  those  sen- 
tences and  witnessed  those  exercises  has  been  burned, 
and  also  the  building  which  was  next  erected.  I  be- 
lieve I  now  happen  to  be  writing  on  the  ninth  anni- 
versary of  that  second  fire.  The  news  of  it  came  to 
me  in  the  early  morning  at  my  home  on  Walnut  Hills. 
As  soon  as  I  was  able  to  reach  Oxford,  with  my  son, 
we  were  searching  for  my  two  daughters  and  my  niece 
among  the  hospitable  homes  into  which  our  scattered 
flock  were  received.  We  found  them  at  President 
Stanton's.  In  the  afternoon  the  whole  company  were 
gathered  at  one    of  the   churches  to  hear  motherly 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  129 

counsels  frpm  Miss  Peabody  and  fatherly  directions 
from  Mr.  Hinkle  and  other  trustees,  concerning  their 
journeys  home.  Hardly  any  of  the  girls  were  dressed 
in  any  thing  like  "  regulation  ''  style,  and  some  were 
almost  grotesquely  costumed  in  whatever  garments 
were  saved  from  the  fire,  lending  to  each  other  and 
piecing  out  each  other's  attire  in  whatever  would  suit 
sizes  comfortably.  I  remember  that  my  daughter  had 
on  the  skirt  of  a  dress  of  which  another  smaller  girl 
wore  the  waist,  the  dress  belonging  to  neither  of  them. 
Rarely  have  I  witnessed  a  more  affecting  scene.  The 
pathos,  the  solemnity,  the  devout  gratitude  for  the  safety 
of  all  the  precious  lives,  quite  saved  the  scene  from  all 
sense  of  the  ludicrous,  so  apparent  in  the  retrospect  ot 
that  motly  company.  At  the  time,  the  eager,  sol- 
emnized, thankful,  trusting,  tearful  young  faces,  so  in- 
tently looking  and  listening  to  their  revered  teacher's 
motherly,  wise,  Christian  words  of  thankfulness,  sub- 
mission, trust,  and  counsel,  constituted  a  picture  than 
which  I  have  none  more  impressive  hanging  in  my 
chamber  of  memory. 

You  remember  how  like  a  phoenix  the  new  semin- 
ary emerged  from  those  ashes.  Do  you  know  with 
what  generosity  of  some  of  our  brethren  that  was  ac- 
complished ?  In  October  or  November  following  the 
April  conflagration  we  met  to  reopen.  The  energy 
and  wise  management  of  Messrs.  Hinkle  and  McCord 
had  pushed  the  work  to  that  surprising  result.  A 
meeting  of  trustees  was  held  on  two  successive  days, 
and  several  of  us  spent  the  night  in  the  seminary.  In 
the  evening  Mr.  Preserved  Smith  solicited  an  inter- 


130  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

view  with  Miss  Peabody  and  myself,  in  which  he  con- 
fided to  us  his  intention  of  making  the  endowment 
which  was  so  generously  consummated  last  year.  "In 
the  multitude  of  thoughts  within  me/'  on  my  bed  that 
night,  there  came  one  which  developed  into  a  conver- 
sation the  next  morning.  Rising  early,  I  soon  found 
Mr.  Smith,  and  taking  his  arm,  we  promenaded  in  the 
long  passages  and  talked.  I  suggested  to  him  that  we 
needed  to  raise  a  few  thousands  of  dollars  to  cover  the 
recent  extraordinary  expenses,  and  so  to  secure  the 
permanence  of  the  institution  in  which  God  had  put 
it  into  his  heart  to  make  so  generous  provision  for 
the  education  of  young  women — especially  the  daugh- 
ters of  home  missionaries.  With  some  timidity — for 
I  did  not  then  know  Preserved  Smith  as  well  as  I  do 
now — I  asked  him  if  he  would  not  give  at  once  one 
thousand  dollars  of  what  he  was  purposing  to  give  at 
a  future  time,  and  let  it  apply  on  the  building  fund. 
"  O,  yes,  I'll  give  a  thousand  now,''  he  answered  so 
promptly  that  I  had  no  use  for  the  arguments  I  had 
studied  up,  and  he  never  found  out  what  an  eloquent 
plea  I  should  have  made.  I  then  asked  him  if  I  might 
tell  the  other  trustees  that  one  of  their  number  had 
made  that  offer  in  order  to  start  the  movement  in  that 
direction.  As  free  from  false  modesty  as  from  osten- 
tation, our  friend  trusted  the  matter  to  my  discretion. 
After  breakfast  we  met  in  the  reading-room.  I  was 
seated  at  one  end  of  our  table,  Mr.  Hinkle  was  at  the 
opposite  end  facing  me,  with  that  grim  look  he  has 
when  he  firmly  "  bottles  up "  his  mirth.  Between 
him  and  me  on  one  side  were  Mr.  Smith  and  Mr. 
Roots,  on  the  other.  Father  Little  and  Mr.  McCord. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  131 

I  do  not  remember  any  others.  It  must  have  been 
the  executive  committee,  I  guess,  not  the  board. 

When  I  had  mentioned  our  need  and  Mr.  Smith's 
offer,  Mr.  Hinkle  said,  "  Put  me  down  for  one  thou- 
sand.'^  Mr.  Smith  objected,  declaring  that,  in  his  best 
judgment,  Mr.  Hinkle's  indefatigable  and  wise  ser- 
vices in  overseeing  the  building  had  saved  us  some 
thousands  of  dollars  in  the  cost  and  in  the  excellence 
of  the  building.  Mr.  Smith  had  previously  expressed 
the  same  opinion  privately  to  me,  and  said  that  it 
would  be  quite  just  for  Mr.  Hinkle  to  present  a  bill 
for  those  services,  and  that  we  ought  without  hesita- 
tion, to  allow  it.  He  now  objected  to  Mr.  Hinkle 
adding  a  cash  gift  of  $1,000.  You  ought  to  have 
seen  how  little  effect  on  Mr.  Hinkle  the  objection  had. 
If  anybody  had  been  trying  to  get  $1,000  out  of  him 
unjustly,  he  could  not  have  looked  more  gruff  or  de- 
termined, or  ^^  set  in  his  way.''  When  Mr.  Smith 
saw  his  persistence  he  immediately  doubled  his  own 
subscription,  making  it  $2,000. 

"  I  have  no  money  of  my  own,"  modestly  spoke 
Father  Little,  "  but  a  good  many  Christian  people  in 
Indiana  are  apt  to  give  for  whatever  I  ask  them  to — 
I  will  undertake  to  raise  $500."  He  did  it,  and  paid 
it  in  promptly.  "  Put  me  down  for  $1,000,"  chimed 
in  Brother  Roots,  keeping  the  key-note  like  a  good 
singer. 

Then  spoke  Mr.  McCord :  "  Brethren,  you  all 
know  that  I  am  not  able  to  make  such  high  figures  as 
some  of  you,  but  I  want  some  of  this  stock.  I  will 
give  $100. "  To  this  Mr.  Hinkle  objected  as  earnestly 
as  Mr.  Smith  had  done  to  his  offer,  and  on  the  same 


132  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

grounds,  assuring  us  that  Mr.  McCord  had  been  with 
him  in  all  the  care  and  work  of  rebuilding,  and  that 
none  of  us  knew  so  well  as  he,  how  valuable  Mr.  Mc- 
Cord's  services  had  been.  Knowing  Mr.  McCord's 
financial  circumstances,  he  did  not  think  that  he  ought 
to  give  $100.  But  Bro.  Hinkle's  obstinacy  in  giving 
$1,000  against  all  remonstrance,  had  quite  disqualified 
him  to  prevent  others  from  giving. 

I  refer  you  to  the  treasurer's  books  to  verify  these 
statements,  and  to  supplement  them  with  any  facts 
which  my  memory  does  not  recall.  But  I  tell  you, 
Brother  Kumler,  the  picture  of  that  group  of  trustees 
hangs  in  my  memory's  chamber  over  against  the  pic- 
ture of  the  group  of  girls  made  in  the  preceding 
April.  I  think  it  a  goodly  picture.  You  now  pre- 
side over  the  body  to  which  those  men  belonged.  I 
hope  that  all  except  Mr.  McCord  will  be  with  you  at 
the  twenty-fifth  anniversary.  And  I  believe  that 
Brother  McCord  has  a  copy  of  that  picture,  and  will 
look  on  it  with  pleasure  where  he  now  is ;  for  do  we 
laot  read  of  the  blessed  dead,  wht)  die  in  the  Lord, 
that  "their  works  do  follow  them?"  Are  not  such 
investments  treasures  laid  up  in  heaven? 

If  I  should  give  my  pen  full  liberty  to  continue 
my  reminiscences,  it  would  consume  far  too  much  of 
the  lime  which  I  know  will  be  so  fully  occupied  on 
that  great  day  in  June.  Let  me  revert  to  my 
first  impression  of  the  instruction  at  the  Western. 
The  six  years  of  my  connection  with  its  board  of 
trustees,  my  many  visits  there,  my  experience  of  its 
system  of  education  in  my  four  daughters,  and  in 
other  dear  girls  hardly  ^ess  dear  to  me  than  daughters. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  I33 

All  these  have  confirmed  my  first  impression  of 
"  naturalness  and  thoroughness  ^^  as  the  most  obvious 
characteristic  of  the  education  given  at  the  "  Western. ^^ 
I  must  again  restrain  my  pen  from  the  amplification 
and  illustration  of  this  thought  to  which  it  would 
rush.  I  will  only  say  that  in  my  deliberate  judgment 
that  remark  is  truly  applicable  to  the  intellectual, 
the  domestic  and  the  spiritual  training  which  is  there 
given.  It  only  needs  a  few  Preserved  Smiths  and 
and  Philip  Hinkles  and  Gabriel  Tichenors,  with  their 
large  endowments,  and  '^  the  mighty  accumulation  of 
littles  "  which  may  come  from  the  host  of  alumnae  scat- 
tered all  over  the  wide  land — yes,  over  "the  wide, 
wide  world  ^' — and  from  the  "  noble  army  '^  of  men 
who  are  their  husbands  and  sons,  it  only  needs  such 
endowment  to  assure  all  coming  generations  of  ever 
increasing  beneficent  influence  from  that  sacred  insfti- 
tution. 

He,  who  has  so  signally  commanded  the  fire  to 
purify  and  not  consume,  who  has  so  constantly  de- 
lived  from  straits  and  perils,  who  has  sent  blessing, 
from  our  dear  Western,  to  so  many  homes  and  schools 
and  churches  and  missions  ;  and  whose  holy  spirit  has 
so  sweetly  dwelt  there,  lo !  these  twenty  and  five 
years  ;  surely  he  is  cheerfully  to  be  trusted  with  its 
future.  I  can  not  much  fear  that  he  will  let  the  peo- 
ple of  Ohio  and  Indiana  fail  to  understand  what  a 
fountain  it  is  that'  he  has  opened  upon  their  borders, 
and  what  honor  and  privilege  he  grants  to  them  in 
providing  conduits  through  which  its  sweet  and  heal- 
ing waters  may  flow  to  all  their  homes  and  far  beyond 
their  utmost  boundaries. 


134  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

It  is  with  a  keen  sense  of  personal  loss  that  I  recog- 
nize the  impracticability  of  my  being  personally  pres- 
ent at  the  reunion.  Assure  all  who  will  be  there  of 
my  cordial  fellowship  with  them  in  all  joys  and  hopes 
and  prayers  of  the  auspicious  occasion. 

Heney  a.  Nelson. 

Dr.  Kumler  then  pronounced  the  benediction,  and 
for  a  moment  a  hush  of  intense  feeling  held  the  com- 
pany. In  one  day  had  been  lived  years,  and  wrought 
over  again  those  life  experiences  which  had  burned 
deepest  into  the  soul  in  living  them.  We  never  knew 
before  how  much  our  lives  meant ;  how  entirely  the 
seminary  training  had  molded  and  directed  them,  the 
unity  of  the  great  plan  to  which  each  life  had  been 
chiseled  into  perfect  adjustment,  making  sublime  his- 
tory all  these  years  without  our  knowing  it.  We 
catch  now,  a  faint  glimmering  of  what  it  will  be  in 
one  last  great  day,  to  see  unfolded  God^s  greater  plan, 
and  to  behold  the  lives  of  all  his  children  gathered 
into  one  unbroken  bundle  of  life. 

At  half-past  seven  Miss  Peabody  invited  the 
Alumnse  and  school  to  an  old-time  "  recess  meeting '' 
in  the  hall.  If  words  have  been  inadequate  up  to 
this  point,  how  shall  they  serve  us  here  ?  It  was 
as  though  all  the  divine  soul  discipline  in  each  life 
had  been  gathered  to  a  focus  in  one  sacred  moment, 
and  all  these  concentrated  in  this  hour. 

Miss  Peabody  gave  out  the  hymn  : 

"  Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds." 
At  its  close  she  remarked  that  the  tie  about  Avhich 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  135 

we  had  been  singing  was  the  holy  spirit  which  binds 
together  the  "  household  of  faith/'  the  "  household  ot 
our  Lord,  Jesus  Christ,  of  whom  the  whole  family 
in  heaven  and  on  earth  are  named/'  a  tie  stronger 
than  that  of  kindred.  "  Part  of  our  host  have  crossed 
the  flood  '^  and  joined  the  "  family  in  heaven  '^  while 
we  remain  "  on  earth/'  She  continued  in  words 
which  went  to  every  heart.  All  consciousness  faded 
into  dim  distance,  except  that  of  children  gathered 
once  more  about  the  dear  mother's  feet  as  so  often 
before,  and  with  her  around  the  master's  feet.  She 
asked  each  to  repeat  a  text,  a  promise,  or  give  a  heart 
experience  as  her  feelings  might  prompt. 

There  was  no  waiting,  for  every  heart  was  full, 
and  one  after  another  precious  promises  and  deep  soul 
experiences  were  poured  out,  until  Miss  Peabody's 
questions  in  the  letter  of  invitation  had  been  fully  an- 
swered. The  anchor  and  the  shield  and  the  armor 
had  been  sufficient.  Amid  the  fiercest  conflicts  had 
been  heard  the  master's  whisper,  "  Peace,  be  still. " 
One,  tor  whom  many  prayers  had  been  offi5red  while 
at  the  seminary,  but  who  had  gone  out  without  the 
anchor,  arose,  and  with  voice  tremulous  with  emotion, 
yet  firm  with  faith  and  resolve,  said  she  wished  to 
thank  her  teachers  and  classmates  for  their  persevering 
faith  and  prayers  ;  and  then  she  told  of  the  anchor 
found  and  tested  since  she  had  left.  Thus  an  hour 
passed  all  too  quickly. 

The  remainder  of  the  evening  was  spent  socially, 
enlivened  by  music  rendered  by  the  young  ladies,  and 
several  spirited  recitations  by  Miss  Maggie  Eon  an, 
one  of  the  pupils. 


136  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Several  Oxford  friends  came  in,  and  old  acquaint- 
ance with  them  was  very  pleasantly  renewed. 

And  so  this  day  of  days  was  ended.  Regretfully 
we  realized  this,  and  full  of  thankfulness  for  what  we 
had  enjoyed,  we  resolved  to  put  it  on  record  as  nearly 
complete  as  possible,  that  we  might  live  it  over  again, 
that  absent  ones  might  enjoy  it  too,  and  that  it  might 
be  preserved  to  those  who  shall  come  after. 


ANNIVERSARY  DAY. 


This  day,  which  for  twenty-five  years  had  sent  out 
its  freightage  of  young  womanhood  trained,  cultured 
and  consecrated,  opened  amid  associations  more  tender 
and  inspiring  than  any  former  anniversary  day. 

The  nineteen  young  sisters  who  came  to  the  altar  to 
receive  Alma  Mater's  crown,  commission  and  blessing, 
stood  the  center  of  many  loving,  admiring,  elder  sis- 
terly eyes. 

With  pride  we  waited  to  welcome  them  to  Alumnse 
ranks,  rejoicing  in  the  evidence  that  each  successive 
class  receives  a  fuller  inheritance  in  the  quality  of  its 
culture  and  training.  The  passing  years  leave  the 
seminary  more  and  more  richly  endowed  with  cluster- 
ing associations,  ripe  experience,  broader  advantages 
and  the  upholding  of  warm,  loving,  prayerful  hearts. 
And  then  our  thoughts  turned  anew,  with  fonder  love 
and  higher  hopes,  to  the  young  sisters,  undergradu- 
ates, who  had  devoted  themselves  so  self  forgetfully  to 
our  entertainment  and  happiness  at  this  reunion. 
Heart  breatiiings  went  up  that  they,  and  all  who  are 
to  follow,  may  increasingly  honor  their  Alma  Mater, 
and  glorify  God  in  the  home,  the  church  and  the 
world. 


138 


WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 


At  half-past  nine  o'clock  the  household,  with  many 
other  friends  and  visitors,  assembled  in  the  hall  for 
the  graduating  exercises  and  anniversary  address. 

GRADUATING  CLASS. 


Luella  Adams   . 
Florence  Amick  . 
Cora  Evans  Bell 
Haddie  G.  Borton 
Lovetta  Brice    . 
Mary  Amanda  Clarke . 
Martha  Ellen  Fain   . 
Anna  Gernand     . 
Caroline  Goodenow  . 
Kate  Hutchinson 
Lillie  Elma  Kendall 
Catharine  Lawson 
Lizzie  McCord  . 
Kate  G.  Seott 
Kate  Storey 
Eebecca  R.  Swift . 
I.  Katharine  Timberman 
Henrietta  Van  Hook  . 
Clara  Vawter    . 


McCoy's,  Ind. 
Scipio,  Ind. 
Hillsboro. 
Plymouth,  Ind. 
Greenfield. 
Baxter  Springs,  Kan. 
Jonesboro,  E.  Tenn. 
Rossville,  111. 
Roseville,  111. 
New  Albany,  Ind. 
Richmond,  Ind. 
Greenup,  Ky. 
Oxford. 
Adams'  Mills. 
Vernon,  Ind. 
Pleasant  Ridge. 
Hamilton. 
Highland,  Kan. 
Franklin,  Ind. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  ]  39 

The  exercises  opened  with  prayer  by  Kev.  A.  B. 
Brice,  of  Greenfield,  Ohio,  after  which  the  following 
intere^ing  programme  was  listened  to  : 

Overture — Oberon — Three  pianos,  six  young  ladies Weber 

Chorus — Where  are  the  Angels? Hatton 

Essay — Chronos Florence  Amick 

(Kead  by  Kate  Storey.) 

Essay— Wanted Kate  Scott 

(Eead  by  Lovetta  Brice.) 

Grand  Concerto — G  Minor  (accompanied  by  sec- 
ond   iDiano) — Adante  —  Molto 

allegro  vivace Mendelssohn 

Song — Storm  and  Sunshine Dudley  Buck 

Essay — Shakespeare's  Religion Anna  Gernand 

(Read  by  Rebecca  Swift.) 
Quartette — Pastoral   Symphonic    ]S"o.   6 — Adante 

molto  moto — By  the  Brook Beethoven 

Essay — Thereby  Hangs  a  Tale- Ella  Adams 

(Read  by  Kate  Timberman.) 

Essay — Each  Man's  Chimney  is  his  Milestone.. ..ii^j^ie  McCord 

(Read  by  Nettie  Van  Hook.) 

Song — Oh,  my  Fernando ! Donizetti 

Essay — Music  of  our  Lives •• Cw-a  Bell 

(Read  by  Nellie  Fain.) 

Piano  Solo — March  from  Tanhauser Lizt 

Chorus — Hark,  to  the  Rolhng  Drum ! H.  R.  Bishop 

The  annual  address  followed,  delivered  by  Eev. 
Addison  Ballard,  D.  D. ,  of  Lafayette  College,  Easton, 
Pa.,  a  brother  of  Mre.  Lizzie  [Ballard]  Walker,  whose 
lovely  life  and  touching  death  form  one  of  the  beauti- 
ful mosaics  of  our  history. 


140  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 


ANNUAL   ADDRESS. 


THE     LORDSHIP     OF     LOVE. 


BY   REV.    ADDISON    BALLARD,   D.   D. 

We  are  born  radicals.  We  like  to  go  to  the  root 
of  things;  to  get,  if  we  can,  at  the  one  central  germ 
from  which  all  grows  and  is  built  up.  Only  the  most 
immature  minds  are  satisfied  with  mere  results.  It  is 
enough  for  the  little  Budges  to  see  the  ''  wheels  go 
Vound/'  but  your  grown  boy  or  girl  wants  to  see  the 
watch  taken  apart,  and  to  be  shown  separately  every 
jewel,  pinion,  wheel  and  screw.  We  have  a  painfully 
confused  feeling  at  seeing  a  cotton  mill  or  a  power 
printing  press  in  operation,  until  we  understand  how 
the  machinery  goes  together  and  the  principle  on 
which  it  works.  And  the  shortest  and  surest  way  ot 
understanding  what  at  first  seems  only  a  tangle  is  to 
see  the  machine  in  its  simplest  form.  Ungear  your 
steam  engine;  look  at  it  uncombined  with  other 
machinery  ;  take  away  everything  that  can  be  spared ; 
keep  only  what  is  indispensable ;  you  then  have  an 
instrument  of  few  parts,  whose  make  and  manner  of 
working  even  a  child  can  understand. 

A  great  literary  institution  is,  at  first  sight,  a  com- 
plicated affair.  On  visiting  such  an  institution  you 
are  shown  through  a  multitude  of  places — halls, 
dormitories,  chapels,  cabinets,  museums,  libraries,  lab- 
oratories, gymnasiums,  recitation  and  lecture  rooms. 
You  are  taken  to  see  great  old  books  in  dead  old 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  141 

tongues  and  parchment  covers^  meteorites  and  fossils, 
skeletons  and  manikins,  magnetic  coils  and  electric 
wheels,  transits  and  theodolites,  microscopes  and  tel- 
escopes, gasometers  and  blow-pipes.  The  vast  and 
complex  array  confounds  you;  you  are  uvervf helmed 
by  the  magnitude  and  variety  of  the  things  to  be 
learned ;  it  is  a  mystery  to  you  how  any  man  can  spool 
the  threads  from  so  many  skeins  of  knowledge  and 
weave  them  into  a  consistent  web ;  you  have  a  suffer- 
ing sense  of  your  ignorance  and  a  colossal  idea  of  the 
learning  which  must  be  represented  by  a  university 
diploma.  But  pierce  to  the  middle,  stiip  the  institu- 
tion of  these  material  helps  which  it  has  taken  cen- 
turies, perhaps,  to  bring  together,  gQ  back  to  the  rude 
beginnings  and  you  find  what  is  almost  too  simple  for 
merely  external  description.  The  Emperor  Charle- 
magne, on  being  told  that  two  men,  meanly  clad,  were 
crying  at  a  street  corner,  ^^  We  have  learning  to  sell,'' 
is  said  to  have  ordered  the  two  men  into  his  presence, 
and  to  have  asked  what  he  could  do  for  them,  and  on 
their  replying,  ^'  Sire,  give  us  food,  clothing  and 
scholars,''  to  have  taken  under  his  patronage  the  two 
teachers,  one  of  whomi  afterward  became  the  founder 
of  the  University  of  Pavia. 

Scholars  and  teachers  are  the  two  easjentials  of  every 
educa^tional  institution.  Study  and  helps  to  study  em- 
brace it  all.  Two  of  the  most  famous  schools  of  their 
own  or  of  any  time,  the  academy  and  the  lyceum,  had 
this  embryo  simplicity.  Plato  ^nd  Aristotle  walked 
with  their  pupiks  in  groves  and  gardens,  or  sat  with 
them  in  the  porches  of  villas.  This  one  living  germ 
draws  to  it  in  due  time  buildings,  libraries,  apparatus, 


142  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

every  needful  appurtenance.  A  mind  in  love  with 
and  earnestly  seeking  knowledge  is  at  once  an  epitome 
and  a  prophecy  of  the  academy,  the  college,  the  sem- 
inary, the  university. 

The  possession  of  a  power  is  itself  a  pledge  that  a 
field  will  be  given  for  its  exercise  ;  capacity  for  growth 
a  pledge  that  the  means  of  growth  will  he  supplied. 
Otherwise,  the  power  and  the  capacity  would  be  but 
inconclusive  and  mocking  fragments — the  foundation 
of  a  tower  which  could  not  be  finished.  God  does  not 
do  things  after  tha(t  fashion.  Steam-power  proves  the 
existence  of  fuel  without  which  the  steam  could  not 
be  generated.  The  tinkling  lid  of  the  boiling  tea- 
kettle finds  its  echo  in  the  click  of  the  coal-miner's 
pick.  God  does  nothing  by  halves.  The  fourth 
day's  work  of  creation  was  the  logical  sequence  to 
that  of  the  third.  The  making  of  grass,  herbs  and 
trees  made  it  sure  that  the  sun  would  follow.  The 
nobler  end  shall  not  fail  for  lack  of  the  less  noble 
means.  "  Is  not  the  life  more  than  meat  ?''  The  sun- 
flower is  more  than  the  sun.  The  solar  system  might 
be  studied  in  the  violet.  The  acorn  is  a  vest-pocket 
edition  of  Copernicus  in  brown  binding  and  tucked 
cover.  A  kernel  of  corn  is  a  short  proposition,  but  it 
has  five  or  six  long  corollaries,  the  month  of  May  be- 
ing the  first.  The  coming  spring  finds  all  growing 
things  in  a  posture  of  eager  expectation.  Under  the 
sward  of  meadows  wakened  lilies  are  impatient  to  lay 
off  the  night-dress  of  their  homly  bulbs  and  to  put  on 
that  unwoven  beauty  in  the  like  of  which  even  Solo- 
mon in  all  his  glory  was  not  arrayed.  The  peach  has 
set  its  germs  and  the  apple  is  in  blossom.     The  smil- 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  I43 

ing  procession  of  the  flowers,  with  the  arbutus  at  its 
head,  has  begun  to  move.  The  ivy,  now  scarce  able 
in  the  breeze  to  hold  with  its  tiny  fingers  to  the  base  of 
the  tower,  hides  an  ambitious  secret  in  its  breast,  and 
trusts  yet  to  pin  a  streamer  on  the  very  point  of  the 
pinnacle.  The  hillside  laurel  has  planned  to  cover, 
with  a  dense  foliage,  the  ruin  and  sides  of  its  granite 
vase.  The  beach  is  resolved  to  widen  his  green  shelves, 
the  oak  to  stretch  a  cubit  further  his  wide-spread  arms, 
and  the  cedar  to  mount  upward  to  the  full  stature  of 
the  forest  king. 

Here  on  the  one  hand  are  manifold  life  and  capacity 
for  growth.  On  the  other  is  the  sun,  God^s  great 
provision  for  the  quickening  of  this  life  and  the  perfect- 
ing of  this  growth.  And  these  two  are  corresponding 
parts  of  one  great  scheme,  joined  together  in  divine, 
indissoluble  wedlock. 

Nor  is  this  scheme  of  divine  beneficence  to  be 
trifled  or  interfered  with.  What  God  has  joined  to- 
gether, let  no  disgusts  or  jealousies  of  the  upper  air 
put  assunder.  Let  the  life-giving  rays  be  unimpeded 
in  their  descent.  Let  them  be  free  to  all  the  vegetable 
tribes ;  to  the  lowly  as  well  as  to  the  lofty ;  to  the 
plain  as  well  as  to  the  beautiful ;  to  the  frail  as  well 
as  to  the  stalwart.  Let  each  take  from  sun,  soil,  rain 
and  dew  what  is  needful  to  its  fullest  growth,  its 
highest  life.  Let  cloud  and  fog  monopolies  be  broken 
up.  Let  upstart  vapors  be  dispelled.  Let  the  sov- 
ereignty be  maintained,  established  by  God  in  the  be- 
ginning, when  he  appointed  the  ^^  greater  light '^  to 
"  rule  "  as  well  as  irradiate  the  day,  and  the  "  lesser 
light  ^^  to  "  rule  ^^  as  well  as  illuminate  the  night. 


144  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

With  greater  emphasis  is  each  desire  and  capability 
in  man  a  sure  pledge  of  provision  and  opportunity. 

The  universe  is  but  a  store-house  for  his  needs. 
And  the  universe  should  be  open  so  that  God\s  capa- 
cities in  all  men  and  in  all  women  may  have  freest 
access  to  God's  opportunities.  Ingersoll  is  so  far 
right  when  he  says  that  "  God  does  not  give  us  brains 
and  then  punish  us  for  using  them.''  Eestrictions 
and  limitations  are  for  criminals.  The  receding  lake 
mocks  the  thirst  of  Tantalus  ;  but  Tantalus  is  a  crim- 
inal. Who  knows  but  he  might  have  been  also  an 
"  idiot !  "  A  king  who,  to  save  himself  trouble,  should 
depopulate  his  kingdom,  would  perhaps  be  monarch 
of  all  he  surveyed,  but  then  he  would  not  have  much 
to  survey.  That  father  would  not  use  language  cor- 
rectly who  should  say,  ^^  I  govern  my  children  admira- 
bly ;  I  have  killed  one-half  of  them  and  the  other  half 
I  keep  locked  up  day  and  night  in  the  cellar."  In- 
stead of  governing  admirably,  he  would  have  demon- 
strated his  utter  incapacity  to  govern  at  all. 

The  attempt  to  crush  out  or  to  starve  any  of  the 
mind's  native  capabilities  or  desires,  in  like  manner 
argues  either  fraud,  imbecility  or  oppression.  The 
monastery  and  the  convent,  in  the  most  charitable 
view,  are  monuments  of  weakness.  The  St.  Antonies, 
St.  Simons  and  St.  Benedicts,  Abbotts  and  Lady  Su- 
periors, are  princes  self-discrowned.  They  make  an 
"  open,  unconditional  rupture  "  with  desires  and  <5apa- 
bilities  in  themselves  innocent,  and  sacrifice  freedom 
and  dominion  to  an  "  energetic,  but  mistaken,  idea  of 
self-control." 

Let   us  make  a  clean  riddance  of  that    tyranny. 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  145 

whether  of  ecclesiasticism,  custom,  prejudice  or  law, 
which  cuts  off  any  power  of  any  man  or  of  any 
woman  on  its  way  to  provision ;  any  capacity  of  man 
or  woman  on  its  way  to  opportunity,  which  intercepts 
the  poor  on  their  way  to  wealth,  the  ignorant  on  their 
way  to  knowledge,  the  erring  on  their  way  to  truth. 
It  is  a  great  point  already  gained,  the  taking  away 
of  so  many  barriers  and  the  opening  to  all  of  so  many 
avenues  to  growth,  culture,  discipline  and  usefulness, 
and  especially  for  woman.  Mrs.  Montague,  as  quoted 
by  Mrs.  Fawcett  in  Good  Words,  wrote  in  1773 
about  the  education  of  her  eldest  niece :  "  I  am  glad 
you  are  going  to  send  my  eldest  niece  to  a  boarding 
school.  I  believe  all  boarding  schools  are  much  on 
the  same  plan,  so  that  you  may  place  the  young  lady 
wherever  there  is  a  good  air  and  a  good  dancing  mas- 
ter." Another  favorite  theory  was  that  a  woman  was 
good  mainly  to  work  button  holes  and  slipper  patterns. 
^-  Between  those  old  ideas  of  feebleness,  prettiness  and 
dependence  and  the  perfect  woman  of  this  era,  en- 
dowed with  endurance,  foresight,  strength  and  skill, 
there  is  a  tremendous  chasm."  But  what  t^e  real 
capacity  of  woman  is,  can  be  known,  as  Mrs.  Fawcett 
says,  only  after  longer  experience.  "  The  notions  that 
all  men  are  logical  and  all  women  emotional ;  that 
women  are  much  quicker  at  coming  at  a  conclusion,, 
but  can  not  tell  how  they  arrived  at  it,  are  in  process 
of  giving  way  and  have  completely  given  way  in 
those  who  at  Girton  College  and  Newnham  Hall  (the 
woman's  colleges  at  Cambridge,  England,)  have  had 
opportunity  of  comparing   the  powers  of  the  young 


10 


146  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

women  who  are  students  there,  with  the  powers  of  the 
graduates  of  the  university.  These  gentlemen  have 
found  that  the  young  women  differ  intellectually  from 
the  young  men  less  than  had  been  supposed  and  in  a 
difterent  direction.  The  logical  faculty  of  the  young 
women  is  much  greater,  their  power  of  so-called  in- 
tuitive perception  is  much  less  than  had  been  antici- 
pated. Some  years,  however,  must  elapse  before  a 
really  fair  comparison  can  be  made  between  the  intel- 
lectual capacity  of  men  and  women." 

11.  But  what  shall  we  do  with  our  education  now 
that  we  have  gotten  it?  or  rather,  what  shall  we  do 
with  our  educated  selves?  If  the  king  sends  you 
seeds  of  beautiful  and  rare  flowers,  you  know  what  he 
expects  you  to  do  with  the  seeds.  He  expects  you  to 
grow  the  flowers.  But  he  also  expects  that  you  will 
do  something  with  the  flowers  after  they  are  grown ; 
that  you  will  place  them  where  their  beauty  and  fra- 
grance can  be  enjoyed.  A  ship-owner  does  not  leave 
a  strong  and  beautiful  ship  to  rot  upon  the  stocks,  nor 
does  he  tow  it  into  a  dry  dock,  content  to  hang  on  its 
side  a  certificate  that  the  ship  is  built  after  the  most 
scientific  pattern,  and  has  been  examined  and  ap- 
proved by  a  competent  inspector.  He  builds  it  for 
sailing.  He  launches  it  and  sails  it  on  waters  where  it 
can  sail  best  and  be  of  most  service ;  whether  it  be 
lake,  river,  sound  or  ocean ;  whether  to  coast  along 
our  own  shores,  or  whether  it  be  a  morning  star  to 
bear  glad  messages  to  far-off  islands  of  the  sea. 

Here,  however,  perhaps  I  ought  to  relieve  you  at 
once,  if  the  thought  has  crossed  the  minds  of  any, 
that  you  are  now  to  hear  rediscussed  the  already  over- 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  I47 

discussed  question  of  womans'  rights  and  womans' 
spheres.  In  the  first  place,  I  would  not  by  so  doing, 
give  you  a  chance  to  say  what  Pompey  said  to  the 
storekeeper  of  whom  he  was  trying  to  buy  some  gun- 
powder. Prying  curiously  at  the  grains  as  he  rubbed 
them  in  the  palms  ot  his  hands,  "  'Pears  to  me,"  said 
Pompey,  "  'Pears  to  me,  sah,  dis  powdah  bin  used 
befo'!''  But,  in  the  second  place,  I  have  the  convic- 
tion that  women  can  be  trusted  about  as  safely  as  men, 
to  decide  for  themselves  what  spheres  they  can  fill  and 
what  avocations  it  is  suitable  for  them  to  follow.  I 
do  not  think  they  are  likely  to  make  any  worse  mis- 
takes, at  any  rate,  than  men,  many  of  whom  choose 
spheres  and  follow  avocations  not  altogether  credita- 
ble to  their  instincts  nor  honorable  to  their  manhood. 
The  safe  way  for  a  true  woman  as,  for  a  true  man,  is, 
if  she  finds  anything  she  herself  thinks  it  proper  to  do 
and  thinks  herself  qualified  to  do,  to  do  it. 

A  woman  may  seem  to  be  out  of  her  sphere  for  a 
time,  simply  because  it  is  a  time  of  transition  in  pub- 
lic sentiment.  But  this  may  be  only  to  find  her  ele- 
ment at  a  higher  stage,  just  as  the  boats  on  one  of  the 
great  water-ways  of  New  Jersey  are  seen  for  a  brief 
interval  riding  on  an  inclined  plane  through  the  air. 
only  to  take  the  water  again  at  a  higher  level. 

The  vital  question  is  one  reaching  far  beyond  mere 
details  and  incidents  of  spheres  and  occupations,  and 
that  is,  what  principal  shall  actuate  us,  whatever  thr 
sphere  or  employment  may  be  ?  The  incidents  of  an 
ocean  voyage  may  be  infinitely  varied.  The  question 
is.  Is  the  ship  headed  to  the  right  port,  and  are  we 
keeping  her  steadily  to  her  course  ?     Newman  Hall 


148  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

says  that  in  his  return  voyage  to  England,  a  bevy  of 
birds  accompanied  the  ship ;  that  they  made  frequent 
and  sometimes  wide  excursions  to  one  side  and  the 
other  of  the  ships  course,  but  that  they  always  re- 
turned and  alighted  on  the  vessels'  masts  or  yards  and 
so  completed  the  voyage  with  the  ship.  What  is  the 
one  high,  controling  purpose  which  we  may  contin- 
ually come  back  to  from  our  daily  bread-winning, 
aesthetic,  scientific  or  literary  excursions  ?  a  purpose 
which  gives  us  dominion  and  a  certain  independence 
over  all  these  busy  flights,  which  survives  them  all  ; 
an  aim  and  a  purpose  which  finds  its  most  glad  and 
glorious  accomplishment  when  the  port  is  gained,  and 
the  wings  are  peacefully  folded  with  the  folded  sails? 

Were  there  no  such  high  and  worthy  aim,  life 
would  have  neither  joy,  dignity,  encouragement  nor 
explanation.  Because  there  is  such  an  aim  and  end, 
life  is  blessedly,  gloriously  "  worth  living."  Natural 
endowments  may  differ;  there  may  be  all  degrees  of 
mental  growth,  culture  and  discipline ;  spheres  and 
occupations  may  differ,  all  never  so  widely ;  yet  all 
may  choose,  follow  and  attain  the  same  unifying,  or- 
ganizing, all-dominadng,  exalted  and  worthy  end. 

This  we  can  do  by  virtue  of  our  being  endowed 
with  moral  affections,  and  by  these  I  mean,  gener- 
ically  the  power  we  have  of  devoting  our  whole  selves 
in  whatever  direction  we  wish — to  wliatsoever  pur- 
suit or  person.  The  fundamental  idea  in  the  affections 
is  choice,  and  choice  in  its  very  nature  is  free.  This 
power  belongs  to  man  only.  The  rose  is  pre-deter- 
mined  to  be  a  rose,  and  the  thistle  a  thistle.  Brutes 
are  disposed  of  by  the  very  limitations  of  their  brute 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  149 

nature.  The  bee  does  not  devote  itself  to  honey- 
making,  the  fish^-hawk  to  diving,  nor  the  beaver  to 
dam-building.  Nor  does  the  ox  devote  himself  to 
plowing,  nor  the  reindeer  to  sledge-drawing,  nor  the 
camel  to  burden-bearing  and  desert-sailing.  They 
are  devoted  to  these  things  by  man,  their  master. 

In  other  words,  man  only  has  the  power,  as  Hickok 
says,  to  behave  himself;  that  is,  to  have  or  hold  him- 
self to  a  course  of  his  own  choosing.  Brutes  are  held 
to  their  respective  courses.  Man  holds  himself. 
"  Thou  hast  put  all  things  under  his  feet.  Thou  hast 
given  him  dominion." 

III.  Where  shall  this  dominion  be  found  ?  Not  in 
the  realm  of  mere  growth  or  culture.  For  the 
scepter  we  seek  must  be  a  scepter  that  can  not  be 
broken  nor  snatched  away  from  us.  But  that  may 
seem  to  be  free  and  to  have  dominion  which  is  free 
and  has  dominion  only  for  a  certain  time  and  place. 
Make  your  prison  limits  as  wide  as  you  please — it  is  a 
prison  still.  Sisyphus  dominates  the  stone  to  the  top 
of  the  hill,  then  the  stone  in  its  turn  dominates  him ; 
it  breaks  away  and  rolls  to  the  bottom.  A  ship 
caught  in  the  outer  circles  of  the  maelstrom  has  the 
freedom  of  that  water,  but  it  is  for  all  that  a  captive. 
The  helm  may  seem  to  control,  but  the  mightier  eddy 
controls  the  helm  and  swings  the  ship  round  and 
round  irresistably  towards  the  devouring  center.  So 
growth  reaches  its  maturity  and  then  declines.  It 
finds  itself,  ere  long,  in  the  grip  of  a  remorseless  vor- 
tex. The  violet  is  free  to  bloom  and  the  pine  to  soar. 
But  both  yield  their  dominion  at  length  to  overmas- 
tering decay.     No  plant    or  tree   is  perennial ;  none 


150  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

lives  through  all  years.  The  body  grows  freely,  but 
soon  finds  itself  in  fetters.  Plato  and  Garzo  (the 
father  of  Petrarch)  die  on  their  respective  birthdays, 
each  in  the  same  bed  in  which  he  was  born.  In  four 
single-line  pictures,  Holmes  gives  us  the  entire  career 
of  America's  greatest  orator  and  statesman  : 

A  home  amid  the  mountain  pines ; 

A  cloister  by  the  hill-girt  plain ; 
The  front  of  life's  embattled  lines ; 

A  mound  beside  the  heaving  main. 

The  circle  is  complete.  We  end  as  we  begin — with 
dust. 

But  can  not  science  give  us  the  lordship  we  seek  ? 
Vast  as  are  the  realms  she  traverses,  even  science 
owns  itself  a  slave  to  a  like  inexorable  monotony- 
For  what  is  science  but  the  finding  of  some  law  under 
which  isolated  facts  may  be  grouped  ?  But  when  we 
have  found  the  law  we  are  done.  What  are  all  the 
paths  of  science  but  circuits?  Mercury  revolves 
about  the  sun  in  eighty-seven  days ;  Herschel  in 
eighty-four  years.  Their  orbits  are  but  inner  and 
outer  walls  of  the  same  prison.  "  The  chain  of  truths 
which  constitute  the  laws  of  the  planetary  system  was 
completed  forever  when  Newton  discovered  the  iden- 
tity of  gravity  with  the  force  which  carries  the  heav- 
enly bodies  in  their  orbits/'  That  is  the  end.  We 
may  go  over  the  same  ground,  may  re-survey  the  same 
road  now  that  the  great  explorers  have  staked  it  out  ; 
we  may  apply  the  formulas  and  verify  the  calcula- 
tions, but  we  can  go  no  further.  The  science  of  as- 
tronomy is  a  circular  railway,  and  go  forever,  you  go 
and  come  by  the  self-same  route  and  by  the  self-same 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  151 

time  tables  which  Kepler  and  Newton  surveyed  and 
recorded. 

Governments  dispatch  costly  expeditions  to  remote 
islands  and  continents  to  observe  transits  and  eclipses, 
because  the  astronomer  knows  just  what  to  depend  on — 
just  that  and  nothing  more.  He  can  predict  with- 
out being  a  prophet.  Le  Verrier  announces  a  new 
planet  and  predicts  its  appearance  in  a  certain  quarter 
of  the  heavens  at  a  given  time.  He  is  like  the  deer- 
stalker. Knowing  the  radius  of  the  curve  which  the 
running  stag  is  taking  through  the  forest,  the  deer- 
stalker can  tell  pretty  accurately  what  time  the  stag 
will  pass  a  given  point.  So,  Le  Verrier,  that  mighty 
Nimrod  of  the  heavens,  having  computed  what  course 
Ms  unseen  but  suspected  game  must  be  taking  through 
his  safe  and  secret  far-oif  ranges  of  the  sky,  flings  his 
nimble  lasso  at  a  venture  three  hundred  millions  of 
miles  into  those  vast  outer  depths  of  space ;  and  there 
his  friend  Galle,  who  is  watching  the  throw  with  his 
spy-glass  at  Berlin,  sees  the  flying  fugitive  and  sees 
how  barely  he  escapes  being  ringed  by  the  falling 
noose. 

But  between  all  that  we  find  in  science  and  the 
moral  affections  there  is  this  immense  difference,  that 
whereas,  in  science  we  know  just  what  to  count  upon 
beforehand ;  in  the  realm  of  the  affections  we  have  no 
such  limitation.  Let  a  man  in  the  exercise  of  free 
choice  give  himself  to  any  pursuit  or  to  any  person, 
and  there  is  no  telling  at  all  beforehand  what  and 
how  much  that  man,  and  especially  that  woman, 
will  do. 

There  is  no  telling  what  Jonathan  will  do  now  that 


152  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

he  has  given  himself  to  David  so  that  he  loves  him 
"as  his  own  soul/^  David  can  count  with  almost 
scientific  accuracy  on  the  flight  of  a  projectile  and  on 
the  result  when  that  projectile  impinges  on  the  fore- 
head of  a  boastful  Philistine.  To  his  practiced  eye 
and  arm  there  is  nothing  surprising,  nothing  wonder- 
ful in  that.  But  the  love  of  Jonathan,  that  love 
which,  overmastering  energy  and  ambition,  helps 
David  to  the  throne  of  which  Jonathan  is  himself  the 
rightful  heir ;  the  love  which  makes  Jonathan  happy 
to  say,  "  Thou  shalt  be  King  and  I  shall  be  next  unto 
thee" — that  is  to  David  an  unceasing  marvel :  "  Thy 
love  to  me  is  wonderful,  passing  the  love  of  women. '^ 

Souls  do  not  blend  according  to  any  law  of  equiva- 
lents or  multiple  proportions.  We  have  in  chemistry 
not  only  prot-oxides  and  dent-oxides,  but  per-oxides, 
compounds  containing  oxygen  in  its  largest  measure 
of  combination.  But  who  has  yet  found  the  limit 
beyond  which  the  love  of  a  wife  will  not  go  for  her 
husband,  or  of  a  mother  for  her  child,  or  of  a  father 
for  even  his  erring  boy  ?  The  prodigal,  on  his  way 
home,  can  rely  perfectly  on  the  old  routine  of  seed- 
time and  harvest  bringing  bread  in  its  season  to  even 
the  servants  of  his  father's  house.  But  oh  !  he  could 
not  count  beforehand  on  that  father  running  out  to 
meet  him  while  yet  a  great  way  off;  the  embrace,  the 
kiss,  the  robe  and  ring,  the  shoes  and  the  fatted  calf. 

A  man  gives  himself  to  his  country.  You  cannot 
calculate  on  him  after  that.  Neither  drillmaster  nor 
paymaster  can  help  you  in  your  calculations.  The 
cleverist  scientist  could  not  have  written  up  Thermo- 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  153 

pylse,  Tempach,  Bunker  Hill,  nor  Valley  Forgje,  in 
advance. 

A  young  midshipman  once  felt  impressed  that  he 
should  never  rise  in  his  profession.  "  My  mind/^  he 
said,  ^^  was  staggered  with  a  view  of  the  difficulties 
which  I  had  to  surmount,  and  the  little  interest  I 
possessed.  If  at  a  moment  I  felt  the  emulation  of 
ambition,  I  shrunk  back  as  having  no  means  in  my 
power  of  reaching  the  object  of  my  wishes.  After  a 
long  and  gloomy  reverie,  in  which  I  almost  wished 
myself  overboard,  a  sudden  glow  of  patriotism  was 
kindled  within  my  breast  and  presented  my  king  and 
country  as  my  patrons.  ^  Well,  then,'  I  exclaimed, 
'  I  will  be  a  hero,  and  confiding  in  Providence  I  will 
brave  every  danger.'  From  that  hour  his  despond- 
ency was  changed  to  hope  and  a  radiant  orb  was  sus- 
pended before  his  mind's  eye,"  which  urged  him  on 
to  renown  and  which  has  made  the  name  of  Nelson 
immortal. 

We  talk  of  the  liberal  professions.  But  thorough 
self-devotion  makes  any  avocation  liberal.  It  is  not 
the  profession  that  is  liberal,  hut  the  man.  The  physi- 
cian, lawyer,  minister,  or  teacher,  may  be  the  veriest 
drudge,  going  through  the  round  of  his  professional 
tasks  as  mechanically  as  the  mule  in  any  other  mill. 
And,  on  the  other  hand,  the  farmer  at  his  plow,  the 
mechanic  at  his  bench,  the  merchant  at  his  counter, 
the  banker  at  his  desk,  may  be  raised  high  above  the 
busy  monotonies  of  their  respective  callings,  for  their 
thoughts  may  be  all  the  while  on  those  for  whom  they 
thus  freely  toil  and  plan — home  and  school  and 
church  and  town  and  state  and  country — to  help  on, 


154  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

if  by  ever  so  little,  whatever  in  the  world  is  good  and 
pure  and  true. 

It  matters  not  what  the  circumstances  are.  "  Cir- 
cumstances/' Mrs.  Whitney  pithily  says,  "  are  the 
things  which  a  man  is  to  make  '  stand  around' !''  Elihu 
Burritt  was  far  enough  from  being  a  slave  to  circum- 
stances during  those  busy  years  when  most  of  his  steps 
were  taken  between  the  forge  and  the  anvil ;  or  Hugh 
Miller  when  quarrying  the  Cromarty  sand-stone ;  or 
Burns  when  turning  up  with  his  plow  field-mice  and 
daisies;  or  Daniel  Safford  when  carrying  iron  bars 
from  the  store  to  the  shop  on  his  shoulder  ;  or  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  when  sharing  with  his  mother  the  hard- 
ships of  a  backwoods  life  ;  or  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield^ 
when  pacing  the  deck  of  a  canal-boat,  or  presiding 
over  the  destinies  of  a  village  school. 

IV.  It  is  a  high  and  grand  prerogative  we  use 
when  we  thus  give  ourselves  to  any  person  or  pursuit 
with  all  the  fervor  and  energy  of  our  nature.  But  we 
must  mount  one  step  higher.  It  is  true  we  are  to 
choose  our  own  way.  As  every  man  has  a  memory 
ot  his  own,  an  imagination  and  a  reason  of  his  own, 
so  every  man  (as  well  as  every  woman)  is  to  have  a 
will  of  his  own,  a  mind  of  his  own  and  a  way  of  his 
own.  But  then  it  makes  all  the  difference  in  this 
world  and  the  next,  what  kind  of  a  will,  what  kind  of 
a  mind,  what  kind  of  a  way  it  is.  I  said  that  Inger- 
soll  was  right  when  he  said  that  "  God  does  not  give 
us  brains  and  then  condemn  us  for  using  them."  Not 
for  using  them  certainly,  but  for  using  them  wrongly. 
The  shallow  sophistry  of  this  poor  blasphemer  would 
make  us  believe  that  freedom  to  think,  talk,  feel  and 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  155 

act,  is  freedom  to  think,  feel,  talk  and  act  only 
wrongly  and  wickedly.  God  does  not  punish  us  for 
using  the  eyes  which  he  has  given  us.  But  will  In- 
gersoll,  therefore,  stare  with  his  eyes  at  the  blazing 
mid-day  sun  ?  A  stumbling  groper  he  would  soon  ex- 
cite only  the  pity  of  passers-by ;  and  if  a  multitude, 
taking  foolish  license  from  his  words,  should  in  like 
manner  abuse  and  lose  their  eye-sight,  then  the  blind 
would  lead  the  blind,  and  both  would  fall  into  the 
ditch  !  There  are  false  ways  of  thinking,  feeling  and 
doing,  and  there  are  right  ways.  And  of  those  which 
are  right  and  good,  there  is  a  highest  and  best.  And 
if  we  would  have  a  true  and  lasting,  an  unrestrained 
and  an  immovable  dominion,  we  must  see  to  it  that 
the  crown  be  upon  the  right  head.  We  shall  be  sub- 
ject to  its  annoying  and  ceaseless  protests,  if  we  dis- 
crown what  God  has  made  regal.  And  the  true,  last- 
ing, unrestricted  lordship  is  the  lordship  of  love.  This 
a  scientific  analysis  of  our  minds  itself  gives,  as  has 
been  so  admirably  shown  by  Dr.  Mark  Hopkins,  of 
Williams  College,  in  those  two  master-pieces  of  an- 
alytic acumen  and  power,  his  "  Outline  Study  of 
Man,'^  and  his  ^'  Law  of  Love  and  Love  as  a  Law.'^ 
You,  young  ladies  of  the  graduating  class,  have 
chosen  for  your  class  motto,  "  Seeketh  Not  Her  Own. '' 
In  this  motto  is  contained  the  true  philosophy  of 
honor  and  of  dominion,  and,  therefore,  the  true  phil- 
osophy of  life.  But  we  have  more  than  a  philosophy. 
We  have  an  example.  This  beautiful  motto  found  its 
perfect  embodiment  in  him  who  "  went  about  doing 
good,''  who  said,  "  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to 
receive,"  and  whose  death  was  an  act  of  loving  sacri- 


156  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

fice  in  behalf  of  others.  For  this  he  has  superlative 
honor,  "a  name  which  is  above  every  name.  For 
this  he  has  superlative  dominion,  for  "  to  him  every 
knee  shall  bow.''  For  this  each  recorded  incident  of 
his  life  and  of  his  death  is,  and  ever  will  be,  most 
sacredly  cherished.  We  celebrate  his  nativity  al- 
though we  know  not  the  date  of  his  birth.  "We  ran- 
sack history,  sift  traditions,  hunt  for  manuscripts,  in- 
terrogate coins  and  medals,  decipher  hieroglyphics, 
study  the  significance  of  types,  pry  into  the  meaning 
of  prophecy,  inquire  into  the  structure  of  parables,  un- 
fold the  history  and  laws  of  language,  discuss  the  true 
principles  of  interpretation  ;  we  set  our  feet  on  every 
rood  of  the  holy  and  adjacent  lands — all,  that  we  may 
find  what  may  throw  some  new  light  on  the  life  and 
mission  of  Jesus.  Never  has  a  man  lived  concerning 
whose  whole  life  and  person  the  world  feels  so  deep 
and  abiding  an  interest;  never  the  man  touching 
whose  dress,  manner,  voice  and  face  the  world  would 
so  eagerly  welcome  any  authentic  addition  to  its  pres- 
ent knowledge. 

And  the  like  felicity  of  fond,  unyielding  recollec- 
tion belongs  in  its  measure  to  all  those  who  drink 
deeply  of  this  same  actively-benevolent  spirit.  The 
names  of  Paul,  Oberlin,  Gordon  Hall,  Samuel  J. 
Mills,  Henry  Martyn,  Harriet  Newell  and  Mary 
Lyon  the  world  will  not  let  die.  The  story  of  their 
lives  will  enkindle  love,  stir  compassion  for  the  igno- 
rant and  erring,  and  animate  holy  resolve  to  bless  and 
save  men,  until  the  Millenium.  Not  their  great 
powers  of  mind ;  not  their  learning,  scholarship'  nor 
culture,  but  what  they  did  in  loving  self  denial  for  the 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  157 

good  of  others,  will  make  their  names  precious,  and 
their  dominion  sure  through  all  time. 

And  as  in  individual  lives,  this  lordship  of  love  is  the 
unifying,  organizing  power,  also,  in  history.  Looked 
at  from  the  outside,  history  is  a  tale  of  revolutions 
only;  the  birth,  growth  and  death  of  governments, 
institutions,  nationalities  and  civilizations ;  arts  lost 
and  recovered,  knowledge  flourishing  and  declining — 
Layard  and  Schleimann  exhuming  monuments  of  skill, 
gazed  at  in  stupid  wonder  by  the  descendants  of  those 
who  wrought  them — one  religion  displaced  by  another 
to  be  itself  supplanted  in  turn,  the  sight  of  Solomon's 
temple  crowned  anon  by  the  Mosque  of  Omar ;  the 
once  Christian  church  of  St.  Sophia  surmounted  for 
centuries  by  the  Moslem  crescent  but  likely  itself  at 
no  distant  day  to  be  replaced  by  the  once  more  vic- 
torious cross — and  so  night  chasing  day  and  day  chas- 
ing night  around  the  world  and  get  the  globe  never 
all  irradiated  at  once ;  and  yet  out  of  all  these  revolu- 
tions is  the  gradual  but  sure  evolution  of  that  kingdom 
of  love  which  can  not  be  moved,  and  which  is  with- 
out end. 

This  is  a  supremacy  that  was  beyond  the  wisdom  of 
the  old  civilizations.  "  The  Roman  world,''  says 
Pressens,  "  was  sick,  not  only  from  the  shocks  it  had 
received,  but  from  a  profound  disgust  of  all  things. 
Their  malady  was  weariness  of  ordinary  life.  Satiated 
with  all  they  had  seen  or  possessed,  they  asked  with 
scorn,  '  Is  it  always  to  be  the  same  ? '  In  search  of 
novelty  they  tortured  nature,  but  could  not  escape 
monotony,  and  ended  by  plunging  into  the  mire. 
Seeking  the  infinite  in  the  finite,  in  the  life   of  the 


158  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

senses,  it  grasped  after  the  impossible  in  real  things  ; 
or  extravagant  refinement  and  false  grandeur,  blended 
with  eccentricity  in  pleasure  as  in  pomp/^ 

Our  own  civilization  is  higher  and  enduring  more 
only  because  of  its  deeper  and  more  enduring  basis, 
the  revealed  word  of  God — the  noblest  regenerator  of 
character,  the  true  and  only  hope  of  the  world.  Noth- 
ing can  be  conceived  more  utterly  senseless  than  the 
clamor  of  those  "  self-sufficient,  all-sufficient,  insuffi- 
cient" men  who  prate  about  the  Bible  as  an  anti- 
quated book,  entirely  "behind  the  times."  Will 
these  jeering  praters  tell  us  where  we  shall  look  for 
"  the  times  "  that  are,  as  yet,  quite  up  to  the  Bible ; 
up  to  its  standard  of  purity,  uprightness  and  fidelity  in 
all  private  and  public  life  ?  Is  it  in  New  York,  or 
Philadelphia,  or  Chicago,  or  Cincinnati,  or  San  Fran- 
cisco ?  What  is  needed,  rather,  is  that  we  go  from 
these  lofty  heights  of  inspiration  down  into  the  greeds 
and  dishonesties,  the  ambitions  and  resentments,  the 
envies  and  cruelties,  the  sorrow  and  unrest  of  the 
"  times,"  and  bring  the  "  times"  up  to  the  love, 
purity,  peace  and  joy  of  the  Bible. 

The  gathering  of  so  many  of  your  Alumnae  to  take 
part  in  the  exercises  of  this  anniversary  is  another 
beautiful  illustration  of  my  theme,  of  the  Lordship  of 
Love.  Year  by  year,  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  this 
has  been  a  place  for  out-going  vessels,  parting  with 
smiles  and  tears,  each  taking  its  separate  course  with 
fears  and  hopes  to  try  the  fortunes  of  the  deep. 

But  all  at  once  the  changing  light  on  these  far-off, 
scattered  sails,  shows  that  the  prows  are  turning. 
And  now  the  ships  are  seen  sailing  back  over  their 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  159 

outward-bound  courses  in  lines  converging  to  their 
one  point  of  departure  ;  and  now  they  rejoin  in  the 
harbor,  making  this  a  fleet  day,  a  day  of  mutual  con- 
gratulation and  benediction. 

And  this  is  no  forced  yielding  to  a  stern,  unwelcome 
summons.  It  is  a  glad,  bounding  response.  You 
have  come  with  no  laggard  step,  because  drawn  by 
love.  Love  is  the  golden  wand  which  has  reversed 
so  many  steps  and  turned  back  hearts  where  the  steps 
can  not  follow — the  love  which  lightened  all  that  may 
have  been  dry  or  hard  in  school  tasks,  the  radiant  gem 
which  will  continue  to  shine  in  undimmed  brightness 
when  the  casket  which  enshrines  it  shall  have  per- 
ished forever. 

At  the  close  of  Dr.  Ballard^s  address.  Dr.  Kumler 
presented  the  diplomas  in  the  following 

ADDEESS  TO  THE  GRADUATING  CLASS  : 

Young  ladies  of  the  Senior  class:  Having  com- 
pleted the  allotted  course  of  study  in  this  institution, 
you  are  now  tq  receive  at  her  hands  the  testimonials 
of  your  past  diligence  and  present  attainments.  She 
has  sought  to  prepare  you  for  acting  efficiently  your 
part  in  life.  Her  aim  has  been  to  put  you  in  posses- 
sion of  personal  power — power  for  good.  Of  course 
the  right  tenure  of  all  beneficent  power  is  use.  What 
advantageth  it  to  be  strong  but  inactive  ?  Who  before 
God  can  answer  for  the  possession  of  faculties  and  in- 
fluence never  exerted  for  God's  glory  or  man's  wel- 
fare ?  If  this  seminary  has  been  instrumental  in  cloth- 
ing you  in  any  degree  with  new  power  it  has  at  the 


160  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

same  time  imparted  new  responsibilities.  It  is  quite 
natural  therefore,  as  you  step  forth  into  active  life 
that  you  should  inquire :  How  may  I  lay  out  my 
strength  for  the  good  of  the  age  and  the  honor  of 
Christ?  It  is  this  question,  doubtless,  that  has  led 
you  wisely  to  adopt  as  your  class  motto,  "  Seeketh 
not  her  own.''  The  soul  that  would  wield  the  great- 
est personal  power  for  good,  must  act  oufc  this  very 
motto.  The  mind  must  go  over  from  self  to  love. 
Selfishness  can  not  attain  the  highest  power.  When 
the  aim  and  labor  terminate  upon  self,  the  hands  are 
weak  to  grasp  and  bless  the  age.  Moral  power  seek- 
eth not  her  own.  Whoever  would  take  the  deepest 
hold  upon  the  age  must  work  by  this.  The  soul  that 
has  no  wider  range  for  its  solicitude  than  that  bounded 
by  the  horizon  of  self-interest,  ha  s  never  come  into 
the  scope  of  a  true  life,  and  what  is  more,  it  shall 
utterly  fail  of  that  for  which  it  is  so  concerned. 
"  Whosoever  will  save  his  life  shall  lose  it.''  The 
way  to  save  life  is  to  give  it  up  for  Christ  and  his  gos- 
pel. Your  class  motto  is  at  once  the  key  to  the 
greatest  personal  power  and  surest  success.  Always 
the  deeds  which  most  command  our  admiration, 
are  those  of  unselfish  devotion  to  the  good  of  others. 
They  who  take  forethought  for  thpse  who  do  not  or 
can  not  take  forethought  for  themselves,  are  the  moral 
heroes.  Follow  your  motto;  and  failure  is  out  of  the 
question.  You  will  never  complain  of  the  want  of  a 
suitable  sphere.  You  will  find  it  in  your  homes,  your 
neighborhoods;  everywhere  you  will  find  those  who 
will  challenge  your  sympathy  and  care.  This  moral 
power  is  a  restless  energy  of  love.     Show  it  a  good  to 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY,  161 

be  done  and  that  is  constraint  enough  for  its  activity. 
It  will  stoop  to  a  fallen  child,  set  it  on  its  feet  and 
wipe  away  its  tears.  It  will  succor  the  faint  and  re- 
inforce the  tempted.  It  will  care  for  the  aged  and 
the  orphan  and  the  outcast.  It  will  be  especially 
eager  in  affording  the  aid  that  goes  deeper  than  the 
outward  need.  It  will  be  busy  in  scattering  the  leaves 
of  the  tree  of  life,  which  are  for  the  healing  of  the 
nations.  It  will  light  the  gospel  fires  on  heathen 
shores,  and  be  "  steadfast,  immovable,  always  abound- 
ing in  the  work  of  the  Lord/^  You  can  not  inaug- 
urate for  yourselves  such  a  life  as  this,  and  not  be  felt 
for  good.  The  world  will  be  the  better  for  your  liv- 
ing in  it ;  the  church  will  be  the  stonger,  and  every 
good  cause  will  feel  the  inspiration  of  your  power,  and 
when  God's  record  spreads  out  its  scroll  for  studious 
eyes  in  yonder  world,  your  renown  will  be  high  with 
heaven's  plumed  peerage. 

As  we  bid  you  farewell  to-day  in  your  going  forth 
from  these  seminary  rules  and  lessons  and  trainings, 
which  have  ever  aimed  to  furnish  you  with  the  great- 
est working  power,  we  bid  you  bear  in  mind  your  own 
class  motto,  furnished  beforehand  by  the  pen  of  in- 
spiration for  your  guidance,  and  implanted  in  the  heart 
only  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  imparts  the  love  that 
seeketh  not  her  own.  As  you  go  forth  into  the  un- 
known future,  the  earnest  prayers  of  your  beloved 
teachers  for  you  are  that  from  this  day  forward  you 
may  all  commit  your  souls  unreservedly  to  the  great 
Captain  of  your  salvation,  that  he  may  lead  you  every 
step.     So  shall  your  path  be  light,  your  success  sure, 

11 


162  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

}our  days  on  earth  useful  and  happy,  and  the  end 
everlasting  joy,  and  so  shall  you  meet  again  to  renew 
your  earthly  attachments,  to  rejoice  in  the  work  which 
God  has  done  in  you,  for  you,  and  by  you,  and  to  cast 
your  crown  at  his  feet.  Looking  upon  your  bright 
faces,  your  vigor  of  body,  mind  and  heart,  we  bid  you, 
in  the  name  of  your  Alma  Mater,  and  in  the  name  of 
our  divine  Master,  work  for  God,  work  for  souls, 
work  unselfishly. 

With  a  deep  personal  interest  in  your  highest  wel- 
fare, we  say,  God  bless  you  all. 

"  How  sweetly  fall  these  simple  words 

Upon  the  human  heart, 

When  friends  long  bound  by  strongest  ties 

Are  doomed  by  fate  to  part ; 

You  sadly  joress  the  hand  of  those 

Who  thus  in  love  caress  you, 

And  soul  responsive  beats  to  soul 

In  breathing  out  "  God  less  you." 

We  give  you  these  diplomas  and  our  earnest  prayer 
"  God  bless  you.'^ 

The  class  poem,  read   by  Ella  Adams,  was  written 
by  Mary  Clark,  so  soon  to   illustrate  it  in  far-away 

Persia. 

SEEKETH  NOT  HEE  OWK 

In  each  human  breast  deep  hidden, 

Nourished  by  each  secret  thought, 
Lies  a  principle  of  seeking 

With  great  evil  often  fraught; 
And  within  our  hearts  it  wakens 

Restless  longings  and  desires, 
That  are  pulsing,  throbbing,  surging, 

Like  confijied  volcanic  fires. 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  163 

So  we  strive  and  toil :  our  labor 

Dims  the  eye  and  pales  the  cheek, 
But  it  does  not  bring  us  pleasure, 

Though  with  earnestness  we  seek ; 
For  the  soul,  when  bending  earthward, 

By  its  golden  gleams  enticed, 
Finds  no  resting  when  it  whispers, 

"  All  of  self  and  none  of  Christ." 

Our  tired  hearts  cry  out  for  friendship, 

And  for  love,  our  lives  to  bless ; 
For  inspiring  words,  well  laden 

With  a  wealth  of  tenderness. 
And  we  heed  not  those  around  us. 

Whose  sad  hearts  are  crushed  with  fears, 
From  whose  eyes,  with  God-like  fingers. 

We  might  wipe  away  the  tears. 

In  the  universe  there's  nothing 

Deeper,  stronger,  than  the  soul. 
Though  we  search  the  earth  and  heavens 

From  the  center  to  the  pole. 
And  the  things  we  put  within  it 

Leave  it  empty  as  before. 
Till  we  seek  the  things  of  heaven 

And  Christ  fills  it  evermore. 

Though  the  Savior,  now  in  glory, 

Needeth  not  our  tender  care. 
Yet  for  him  the  burdens  of  his 

Little  ones  we  all  may  bear. 
We  can  give  a  cup  of  water. 

And  how  sweet  his  words  will  be, 
"  As  ye  did  it  to  the  humblest, 

Ye  have  done  it  unto  me." 

We  can  tell  God's  loving  message, 

We  can  breath  a  word  of  prayer, 
We  can  bring  the  sick  to  Jesus, 

Lay  them  at  his  feet  with  care 


164  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

And  the  wine  of  consolation, 

With  the  oil,  we  can  pour  in 
When  the  heart  is  bruised  and  bleeding 

From  its  conflict  fierce  with  sin. 

Seeking  thus  the  things  of  heaven, 

We  shall  grow  in  word  and  look 
Like  our  fairest  elder  brother, 

Who  himself  our  nature  took. 
With  his  name  upon  our  forehead, 

And  his  kingdom  in  our  heart 
We  lose  sight  of  earthly  seeking, 

Since  we  have  that  better  part. 

Then  as  weary  hireling  waiteth 

For  the  shadow  of  the  night. 
We  shall  hail  the  stars  of  evening, 

Gleaming  through  the  soft  twilight  ; 
Hail  them  as  the  eyes  of  angels. 

Waiting  till  the  welcome  tone 
Bids  them  carry  home  to  glory 

Each  who  ''  seeketh  not  her  own." 

Miss  Laura  Olmstead,  Class  of  ^73,  who  has  now- 
joined  our  mission  band  at  Bangkok,  Siam,  read  the 

KESOLUTIONS  OF  THE  ALUMNA. 

Resolved,  First,  That  we,  the  daughters  of  our  dear  Alma 
Mater  are  filled  with  joy  unspeakable  at  this  precious  privi- 
lege of  gathering  within  these  home  walls,  made  dear  by  so 
many  pleasant  associations  and  hallowed  by  the  constant 
abiding  presence  of  the  holy  spirit,  who  "binds  our  hearts  in 
Christian  love." 

Second,  That  we  bring  our  tribute  of  gratitude  to  lay  at  the 
feet  of  our  beloved  Miss  Peabody,  who,  during  all  these  years, 
has  ever  been  a  kind,  loving,  patient,  mother ;  a  forbearing, 
faithful,  sympathizing  teacher ;  showing  continued  kindness, 
thoughtfulness  and  consideration  toward  those  who  have  been 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  1^5 

permitted  to  share  with  her  in  this  glorious  work,  upholding 
and  sustaining  us  through  days  of  inexperience,  and  leading 
us  still  to  the  Fountain  of  Wisdom,  and  to  the  "  Rock  that  is 
higher  than  we."  And  to  our  dear  Miss  Jessup,  whose  beau- 
tiful life  will  always  be  remembered  as  helpful  in  leading  us 
in  God's  own  way,  we  bring  grateful  tribute. 

Third,  That  to  the  faithful  band  of  trustees  who  have  been 
to  us  as  fathers — during  adversity  as  well  as  prosperity — to 
whose  skillful  management  in  the  use  of  means  entrusted  to 
them,  we  owe  so  much,  w^e  render  heartfelt  thanks. 

Fourth,  That  we  have  been  afforded  rare  enjoyment  by  the 
vivid  pen  pictures  of  heart  and  home  life  which  our  absent 
sisters  have  so  thoughtfully  sent  us  in  lieu  of  their  presence, 
but  yet  they  do  not  satisfy,  and  the  longing  to  look  into  their 
faces  and  listen  to  their  dear  familiar  voices,  is  greater  than 
ever.  Tenderly  and  reverently,  too,  we  think  of  those  whose 
voices  are  hushed,  but  whose  spirits  (as  we  confidently  be- 
lieve) are  hovering  near  us  at  this  blessed  time. 

"Oh,  the  lost,  the  untorgotten  1 
In  our  hearts  they  perish  not." 

Fifth,  That  we  thoroughly  appreciate  the  great  labor  and 
sacrifice  which  the  grand  home  coming  has  imposed  upon  the 
present  band  of  teachers  and  pupils.  Our  admiration 
and  thanks  for  the  care  and  skill  which  they  have  displayed 
in  providing  so  perfectly  for  every  want,  are  not  bounded  by 
the  imperfect  manner  in  which  we  have  been  able  to  express 
our  gratitude. 

Siocth,  That  we  rejoice  to  see  the  ever-increasing  interest  in 
missionary  work  which  is  manifested  by  the  daughters  of  our 
Alma  Mater,  and  our  hearts  go  out  in  prayerful  and  loving 
remembrance  of  those  who  have  consecrated  their  lives  to  the 
noble  work. 

Severith,  That  the  Alumna  put  forth  greater  effort  in  the 
future  to  advance  the  welfare  of  our  beloved  institution,  and 
that  most  of  all  we  will  never  fail  to  ask  for  it  richest  bless- 
ings from  the  Father's  hand. 

Eighth,  That  the  Alumnae  Association  endeavor  to  raise 
within  five  years  from  date  of  organization,  the  sum  of  $5,000 


166  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

as  a  special  memorial  offering;  such  offering,  be  it  larger  or 
smaller,  to  be  securely  invested  by  the  treasurer  of  the  sem- 
inary as  the  nucleus  of  an  Alumnse  fund,  the  income  only,  of 
said  fund,  to  be  used  toward  the  education  of  those  who  ex- 
pect to  devote  themselves  to  Christian  work. 

Ninth,  That  we  bring  hearte  newly  consecrated  to  our  lov- 
ing Heavenly  Father,  and  that  we  truly  unite  in  crowning 
Jesus  Lord  of  All, 

The  doxology  was  sung^  and  Dr.  Ballard  pro- 
nounced the  benediction. 

Dinner  followed  soon,  and  was  quite  as  delightful  an 
occasion  as  the  day  previous.  Even  a  larger  number 
of  guests  were  served. 

Adjourned  business  meetings  of  the  Alumnae  were 
held  at  eight  A.  m.  and  four  p.  M.  Arrangements  were 
made  for  the  publication  of  this  memorial,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  each  class  appointed  to  write  a  class  history  for 
the  volume,  which  will  be  found  in  another  part  of 
this  book. 

The  organization  of  a  permanent  Alumnae  Associa- 
tion was  completed  by  the  adoption  of  the  following 
constitution,  and  the  election  of  officers : 

CONSTITUTION   AND  BY-LAWS  OF   THE  ALUMNA 
ASSOCIATION. 

Article  1.  This  society  shall  be  called  the  Alumnse  As- 
sociation of  the  Western  Female  Seminary. 

Art.  2.  Its  objects  shall  be  to  deepen  the  interest  of  old 
scholars  and  the  different  classes  in  each  other ;  to  place  those 
who  have  been  connected  with  the  seminary  in  a  united, 
helpful  relation  to  it ;  to  keep  alive  and  quicken  the  interest 
of  all  in  Christian  education. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  167 

Art.  3.  All  teachers  and  graduates  of  the  seminary  may 
become  members  by  subscribing  to  the  constitution  and  by- 
laws, and  paying  one  dollar  as  an  entrance  fee. 

Art.  4.  The  officers  shall  be  elected  once  in  two  years,  or 
oftener  in  case  of  vacancy,  and  shall  consist  of  a  president, 
five  vice-presidents,  a  secretary,  aided,  so  long  as  the  business 
of  the  association  shall  require  it,  by  three  assistant  secre- 
taries ;  and  a  committee  of  appropriation,  consisting  of  three 
members,  one  of  whom  shall  be  the  principal  of  the  seminary. 

Art.  5.  A  meeting  of  the  society  shall  be  held  annually, 
in  the  seminary,  on  anniversary  day  or  the  day  preceding, 
and  special  meetings  may  be  called,  as  provided  in  the  by- 
laws. 

Art.  6.  All  moneys  received  shall  be  paid  to  the  secretary, 
and  by  her  paid  over  to  the  treasurer  of  the  Western  Female 
Seminary,  to  be  by  him  held  and  invested  as  a  separate  fund 
in  trust,  for  such  uses  as  may  be  designated  from  time  to  time 
by  the  committee  of  appropriation. 

BY-LAWS. 

1 .  The  secretary  shall  call  special  meetings  upon  the  order 
of  the  president,  or  on  the  written  request  of  any  eight  or 
more  members,  and  at  such  time  and  place  as  may  be  desig- 
nated in  said  request. 

2.  Officers  shall  be  elected  by  the  majority  vote  of  the 
members  present  at  the  annual  meeting. 

3.  The  secretary  shall  keep  a  record  of  all  the  transactions 
of  the  association,  including  receipts  and  expenditures,  and 
shall,  from  time  to  time,  inform  absent  members  of  any 
facts  in  the  history  or  condition  of  the  seminary  which  she 
may  deem  of  special  interest  to  them. 

4.  The  committee  of  appropriation  shall  direct  what  use 
shall  be  made  of  the  funds. 

5.  Members  of  senior  classes  of  the  seminary  providen- 
tially prevented  from  graduating,  upon  recommendation  of 
their  classes,  may  become  associate  members  on  the  terms 
named  in  article  3. 

6.  The  constitution  and  by-laws  may  be  amended  by  the 
vote  of  a  majority  of  members  at  any  annual  meeting. 


168  WESTERN    FEMALE   SEMINARY. 

In  the  afternoon  the  leave  takings  began,  and  Fri- 
day morning  the  last  had  gone,  save  a  few  who  re- 
mained with  the  teachers  over  the  Sabbath. 

The  farewells  were  hot  sad,  and  we  will  not  dwell 
upon  them. 

We  had  been  brought  close  together  in  one  family, 
never  to  be  separated  again  in  spirit,  even  though 
time  and  space  might  intervene.  Children  and  loved 
ones  were  calling  home  again  ;  life's  duties  were  wait- 
ing to  be  resumed  with  new  and  precious  significance. 

A  halo  of  happy  memories  of  the  two  beautiful 
days  went  with  us  to  our  homes,  glorifying  the  com- 
mon place  of  everyday  life,  and  sweet  echoes  re- 
sounded in  our  hearts  for  weeks. 

Those  who  remained  over  the  Sabbath,  speak  of  the 
Sabbath  morning  prayer  meeting  in  Miss  Peabody's 
room,  when  each  brought  some  precious  flower  of  ex- 
perience from  the  reunion  days,  and  wove  them  to- 
gether for  a  chaplet  for  the  sacred  head  whom  we 
would  crown  Lord  of  all.  It  was  a  fitting  finale  to 
the  week  of  blessing. 


LIBRARY. 


CLASS   HISTORIES. 


The  succeeding  class  histories,  being  compiled,  each  by  one 
of  its  own  members,  present  a  variety  in  unity. 

We  trust  that  even  the  casual  reader  wonders  with  more 
than  a  passing  interest,  what  may  have  been  or  will  be  the 
life  histories  of  the  entire  406  Alumnae. 

Space  forbids  the  complete  record  here,  and  their  sacred- 
ness  renders  it  inappropriate.  Those  which  are  given  may 
be  taken  as  types  of  many  more,  in  similar  spheres,  which 
are  withheld.  All  would  lay  the  united  volume  of  most  that 
has  been  noble,  beautiful  and  useful  in  their  lives,  upon  an 
altar  of  gratitude  to  Alma  Mater,  and  thankfulness  to  God 
for  all  the  sweet  and  holy  lessons  learned  within  her  walls. 


CLASS  OF  1856. 

This  class  had  but  two  members,  as  will  be  seen  by  refer- 
ence to  the  catalogue  in  another  part  of  the  book.  Neither 
were  present  at  the  reunion,  but  Miss  M.  Augusta  Ch'apin 
writes :  "Our  class  had  a  short  but  pleasant  history.  I  was 
both  teacher  and  pupil  all  the  year,  finishing  the  course  begun 
at  Holyoke  Seminary.  I  have  never  had  the  pleasure  of 
meeting  my  class-mate,  Mrs.  Fuller  (nee  Harrington),  since. 
I  have  taught  continuously  since  my  graduation,  and  enjoy 
the  duties  more  and  more  each  succeeding  year."  No  word 
has  been  received  from  her  class-mate. 

This  class  selected  for  its  motto  "Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have 
me  to  do  ?"  and  the  diplomas  of  that  and  every  succeeding 
class  have  born  this  prayer,  beneath  the  figure  of  a  young 
woman  kneeling  before  an  altar. 


170  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 


CLASS   OF   1857. 

Jennie  [Sturdevant]  Farris  was  the  only  member  present 
at  the  reunion.  Greater  space  is  given  to  this,  the  first  full 
class,  as  a  sort  of  type  of  those  to  follow,  all  of  whose  personal 
histories  space  will  not  permit  to  give  so  fully.  At  the  open- 
ing of  the  second  year  of  the  seminary,  when  the  girls  gath- 
ered for  regular  seats  in  the  seminary  hall,  among  the  first 
words  heard,  were  substantially  these  :  "  It  is  a  real  comfort 
to  feel  we  have  old  scholars  this  year !  Please  take  seats  as- 
signed as  I  read  your  names."  The  names  of  ten  young 
ladies  were  first  read.  ''These,"  continued  Miss  Peabody 
"will  be  our  'senior  class' — of  which  we  hope  to  be  very 
proud."  Being  the  first  full  class  which  had  pursued  its  stud- 
ies in  the  seminary,  its  organization  was  quite  an  event. 

As  the  privileges  and  dignities  of  "  seniors  "  began  to  be  ac- 
corded to  it,  the  long-drawn  sigh  was  often  heard,  "  I  wish  I 
was  a  '  senior.' " 

We  fancy  the  echoes  of  that  sigh  have  ceased  to  vibrate,  for 
it  is  now  better  realized  that  this  mount  of  privilege,  as  all 
others,  implies  a  previous  long,  steep  ascent. 

The  likeness  between  classes  of  the  same  school,  as  with 
children  of  a  family,  is  quite  apparent,  yet  class  or  child  has 
each  some  individuality,  and  so  holds  forever "  its  own  place, 
simple,  pathetic,  or  thrilling,  in  the  family  story  so  dear  to  all. 
Ten  more  contrasting  could  scarcely  have  have  been  found, 
than  the  members  of  this  class  whom  one  year  of  close  asso- 
ciation welded  into  one,  to  make  its  own  peculiar  impress. 

"Lord  accept  our  tenfold  offering,"  was  selected  for  a 
class  motto,  from  which  the  name  "Laoto"  was  derived.  A 
class  society  was  formed  for  future  acquaintance  and  corres- 
pondence, of  which  Helen  M.  Dudley  was  chosen  president. 

With  undeiinable  emotions  of  grief  at  parting,  yet  confident 
anticipations  for  the  future,  this  first  band  of  Alumnae  turned 
from  the  seminary  steps  toward  life's  broadening  realities. 

Old  words  expanded  with  new  meaning  as  they  went,  or 
faded  and  were  forgotten  by  young  hearts  flinging  care  aside. 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  171 

and  measuring  fond,  harmonious  hopes  Hghtly  as  ever  they 
had  ghded  through  "  cahsthenic  "  mazes,  singing 


or, 


' '  A  rosy  wreath  I'll  twine  for  thee, " 

• '  The  mists  of  the  morning  are  rolling  away ; 
The  eastern  star  fades  at  the  coming  of  day; 
The  foam  of  the  billow  already  I  see, 
And  there  is  my  little  bark  waiting  for  me— 

For  me,  FOB  ME  ! 

And  there  is  my  little  bark  waiting  for  me." 

A  year  later  the  first  class  letter  reported  five  teaching,  one 
making  "  wonderful  achievements  in  the  pot  and  kettle  line  " 
under  her  mother's  superintendence,  and  another  preparing 
her  bridal  outfit. 

Two  years  after  graduation  the  first  class  meeting  was  held 
at  the  seminary,  four  being  present.  A  poem  which  had  been 
voted  for  this  occasion  during  school  days  was  read,  entitled 
''  Thrice  Conqueror."  A  year  later  the  annual  class  letter 
conveyed  the  sad  word  that  Eliza  [Scott]  Olds,  the  first  of  the 
Alumnse  sisterhood  married,  had,  in  less  than  one  short  year, 
with  her  little  babe,  the  first  seminary  grandchild,  vanished 
forever  from  a  happy  home  and  the  presence  of  those  who 
loved  them  on  earth.  Another  was  married  and  removed  to 
California — others  were  married  or  about  to  be — all  had  been 
teaching  more  or  less,  and  were  widely  scattered  and  full  of 
individual  responsibilities.  Since  then  there  has  been  per- 
sonal correspondence  but  no  class  letter ;  not,  however,  from 
any  want  of  fidelity  to  each  other.  Death  repeatedly  invaded 
the  ranks,  early  taking  the  President,  and  now  five  are  gone 
and  five  remain.  The  ra^oidly  circling,  ever  narrowing  years, 
leave  little  opportunity  to  return  for  lost  threads,  but  when 
it  is  known  that  this  class  has  given  to  the  world,  first  or  last 
ten  good  teachers,  nine  faithful  wives,  and  claims  with  par- 
donable pride  thirty  of  the  "  grand  children  "  on  earth  and 
in  heaven,  who  shall  say  she  has  failed  in  duty,  lost  her  come- 
liness, or  is  shorn  of  her  power. 

Five  years  after  graduation  the  second  death  occurred. 
The  daughter  of  a  clergyman;  a  gentle,  retiring  girl,  scarcely 


172  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

known  well  by  her  class  mates  until  her  modest  reserve  was 
broken  in  the  hour  of  parting,  and  her  heart  wrote  itself  out 
in  the  letters  they  afterward  exchanged.  Her  cup  of  sorrow 
was  her  marriage  portion,  and,  like  a  terrified,  wounded 
young  creature  she  sought  refuge  in  her  old  home  to  die. 

Maggie  [Dudley]  Sinks  died  a  few  years  later.  She  was  a 
rare  spirit;  sensitive,  witty,  genial,  energetic,  highly  endowed 
in  mind,  greatly  beloved  at  home  and  at  school.  Sayings  of 
hers  remembered  by  class  mates  are,  "  Labor  is  life — 'tis  the 
still  water  faileth."  "  Idle  hearts  only  the  dark  future  fright- 
ens."' "  Play  the  sweet  keys,  woald'st  thou  keep  them  in 
tune,"  and  a  quotation  from  Miss  Peabody  "  Put  feeling  in 
the  pocket  when  it  comes  in  the  way  of  duty."  She  made 
botany  a  specialty  after  leaving  the  seminary,  and  taught  for 
several  years.  At  the  close  of  the  war  she  was  married  to 
one  whom  she  had  known  and  loved  from  childhood ;  a  soldier 
and  a  hero.  The  robbery  of  her  husband's  store  gave  a  ner- 
vous shock  to  a  constitution  naturally  frail,  from  which  she 
never  recovered.  She  buried  a  little  daughter  but  six  weeks 
old,  and  a  little  son,  a  winning,  social  little  fellow,  only  a  year 
old.  These  two  bereavements  were  more  than  her  health 
could  bear,  and  she  faded  away,  sweetly  and  patiently.  After 
her  death,  among  the  keepsakes  were  found  some  faded  flow- 
ers taken  from  the  waxen  fingers  of  her  baby  daughter,  with 
the  lines, 

"  As  a  twig  trembles,  while  a  bird 

Lights  on  to  sing,  then  leaves  unbent; 
So  is  my  memory  thrilled  and  stirred; 
I  only  know  she  came  and  went  " 

Her  last  words  were  those  of  prayer,  and  soon  her  husband, 
sitting  by  his  desolate  hearth,  said,  "  I  thought  ten  years  ago 
I  had  suffered  all  I  could.  "  His  stricken  heart  never  rallied 
and  in  a  few  years  he  followed  his  beloved. 

Catharine  [Doolittle]  Chamberlain  was  a  very  successfu]; 
teacher  for  seven  years  in  the  north  and  as  governess  in  the 
family  of  a  wealthy  planter  near  Cumberland,  Tennessee, 
where  she  was  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war. 

At  the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  familv  she  remained  jis 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  I73 

long  as  possible  and  then  was  safely  conducted  through  the 
army  lines  and  returned  home. 

After  her  marriage  her  home  was  in  a  new  and  growing 
colony,  Williamsport,  Missouri,  where  she  was  a  social  and 
moral  power.  Her  pastor  said  ''her  power  and  influence 
for  good  were  fully  equal  to  any  other  five  ladies  of  my 
parish.  "  Of  three  little  sons  she  buried  two  and  herself  soon 
followed  in  death  by  a  malignant  fever  contracted  in  the  care 
of  sick  friends. 

Khoda  S.  Driggs,  lovely,  gentle,  talented,  idolized  Rhoda! 
who  entered  the  unseen  portals  out  of  suffering  unspeakable. 
She  taught  continuously  after  her  graduation,  first  at  the 
seminary  and  afterward  in  the  high  schools  at  Madison, 
Evansville,  Greencastle  and  Indianapolis.  Almost  peerless 
as  a  teacher  she  was  no  less  treasured  as  a  woman,  daughter, 
sister  and  friend.  Her  graceful  pen  frequently  contributed 
much  admired  essays,  poems  and  sketches  to  the  secular  and 
religious  press.  She  was  as  modest  and  retiring  as  she  was 
beloved  and  gifted. 

But  relentless  suffering  laid  its  hand  on  her^beautiful, 
useful  life  in  1876,  and  for  three  months  she  suffered  so 
terribly  with  a  tumor  of  the  stomach  and  other  complications 
that  those  who  loved  her  involuntarily  shut  away  the  memory 
of  those  agonizing  days,  "  lest, "  as  her  sister  writes,  "  with 
aching  heart  and  tear  blinded  eyes — in  utter  rebellion  I  find 
myself  presuming  to  question  the  love  and  wisdom  of  God." 
Multitudes  of  friends,  distant  and  near,  vied  with  each  other 
in  daily  tokens  of  anxious  desire  to  lighten  her  sufferings. 
In  all  her  agony  not  a  murmuring  or  impatient  word 
escaped  her.  Her  life  had  been  "  hid  with  Christ  in  God, " 
and  restfuUy,  quietly  she  slept  the  closing  hours  away  July 
25, 1876. 

Loving  hands  brought  such  a  profusion  of  flowers,  em- 
blematic of  the  fragrance  of  her  sweet,  pure,  high-souled  life, 
that  the  casket  was  hidden  amid  them,  and  they  were  laid 
everywhere  about  her  place  of  rest;  they  left  her  asleep  under 
a  coverlet  of  flowers,  and  returning,  found  the  desolated  home 
made  bright  and  fragrant  with  them  by  sympathizing  friends. 


174  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Of  the  five  members  of  this  class  who  remain,  all  have  been 
happy  in  the  relations  of  wifehood  and  home.  Four  are 
mothers  of  sturdy,  live,  growing  (or  grown)  boys  and  girls, 
whose  care,  training,  education  and  future  comprise  mainly 
the  duties,  hopes  and  solicitudes  of  their  respective  mother's 
lives.  To  these  duties  one  adds  those  of. the  pastor's  wife. 
She  describes  herself  as  a  "Martha,  careful  and  troubled 
about  many  things,"  with  a  husband  just  the  reverse,  whose 
cheerful  trust  in  God  and  man  keeps  her  faith,  hope  and 
charity  from  giving  out,  and  reveals  to  her  the  bright  side  of 
life,  which  she  says  has  been  a  very  happy  one,  with  more  of 
the  comforts  and  pleasures  than  of  the  vexations,  though 
there  have  been  at  times  trials  and  sorrows  that  surged  the 
heart,  but  God  gave  sustaining  grace. 

Another,  who,  with  Rhoda  Driggs,  bore  the  standard  for 
highest  scholarship  in  the  class,  and  was  for  several  years  a 
teacher,  aware  of  the  best  that  the  world  can  offer  for  its 
votaries,  and  of  all  life's  possibilities  to  those  who  will  make 
the  needed  sacrifice  for  their  attainment,  now  in  the  midst  of 
her  years,  writes : 

"  I  ask  no  other  record  than  a  '  Well  done,'  no  higher  praise 
than  that  I  am  a  good  wife  and  devoted  mother.  It  is  no 
small  task  to  bear,  to  nurse,  to  rear  six  children.  I  have  that 
number;  three  daughters  and  three  sons — generous  boys 
with  material  in  them  for  good  men.  My  friends  vote  my 
life  a  hard  one ;  from  their  stand  point  it  may  be,  but  I  know 
some  excellent  lubricators,  and  keep  my  domestic  machinery 
moving  easily.  I  am  content  to  revolve  in  the  sphere  of 
home,  according  to  the  old  fashioned  theory  that  it  is  the 
proper  sphere  for  woman — or,  perhaps  I  had  better  say  I 
have  accepted  the  situation." 

From  other  sources  we  learn  that  her  daughter  has  gradu- 
ated from  the  high  school,  and  been  one  year  a  teacher  in  the 
city  where  she  resides. 

Another,  after  many  years  of  happy  married  life,  in  dis- 
tant California,  is  watching  month  by  month  as  paralysis  slowly 
creeps  upon  her  husband.  She  writes,  "I  could  not  have 
borne  this  terrible  trial,  and  the  death  of  three  of  my  six  lit- 
tle ones,  had  not  the  Everlasting  arms  been  underneath  me." 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  175 

Yet  she  writes  buoyant  and  cheerful  as  one  whose  mental 
and  spiritual  resources  are  equal  to  the  promise  "  as  thy  day 
is  so  shall  thy  strength  be."  One  is  an  artist  and  the  wife  of 
an  artist — not  ambitious  for  herself  she  says,  but  with  bound- 
less ambition  for  her  husband.  Her  only  children  are  those 
of  the  artist's  brush  of  which  many  hang  east  and  west.  She 
seems  very  happy  in  them,  and  modestly  expresses  the  hope 
that  so  far  they  may  haply  have  escaped  repose  in  garrets. 

One  mother,  who  has  buried  five  out  of  eight  children, 
writes,  and  we  record  it  here  in  this  first  class  history,  be- 
cause it  will  vibrate  the  chords  of  the  heart  of  all  mother- 
hood along  down  the  line  of  the  twenty-five  classes,  voicing 
in  one,  the  nearly  two  hundred  mothers  whom  these  class 
histories  represent. 

"  I  am  cook,  washerwoman  and  seamstress  for  a  husband 
and  three  boys,  with  healthy  appetites.  The  fresh  enthusi- 
asm of  my  boys  over  the  Murphy  pledge  just  signed,  is  de- 
priving me  of  ability  to  think  or  write  intelligibly  at  this 
moment."  -se  -5f  -x-  <«  Perhaps  I  might  note  the  summer  of 
73,  the  busiest  of  my  life.  At  this  j^eriod  these  four  boys  " 
(one  has  since  died),  "the  smartest,  of  course — or,  among  the 
very  smartest — of  the  seminary's  various  grand-sons,  all 
had  the  whooping  cough  at  once,  the  eldest  being  but  five 
years  old."  *  ^  ^  "Mj^  husband,  a  lawyer,  is  a  home 
man,  and  the  only  shadow,  except  the  shadow  of  death, 
that  has  darkened  my  life,  has  been  during  the  hard  times, 
when,  being  one  among  the  unfortunate  ones,  he  was  obliged, 
for  the  sake  of  employment,  to  be  absent  from  home  for 
months  at  a  time,  leaving  me  with  the  entire  care  of  my 
little  family. 

"  In  earlier  years  the  feeling  of  unprofitableness  troubled 
me ;  but  no  great  mission  has  come  to  me.  I  have  been  too 
busy  to  seek  one,  and  now  look  forward  to  no  particular  hap- 
piness in  this  world  outside  of  my  own  home.  My  chief  am- 
bition is  that  my  three  remaining  boys  (out  of  eight  children) 
may  live  to  be  useful.  God-fearing  men,  whom  the  seminary 
may  be  proud  to  greet  as  grandsons.  I  certainly  hope  it 
may  have  daughters-in-law  for  me  among  ite  future  gradu- 
ates, and  would  suggest  that  a  special  department  be  estab- 


176  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

lished,  in  which  the  mysteries  of  hoy  nature  be  the  topic  of  in- 
struction. I  propose  that  successful  mothers  have  charge  of 
this  department,  and  that  these  lessons  be  published  for  the 
benefit  of  discouraged  mothers  among  the  graduates.  Surely, 
with  such  additional  training,  the  seminary  daughters  would 
go  forth  fully  i)repared  for  the  fulfillment  of  woman's  mission 
in  life !  The  order  and  punctuality  taught  at  the  seminary 
has  been  of  great  benefit  to  me  in  my  household  affairs.  To 
the  influence  of  the  spiritual  training  we  can  alfbear  testi- 
mony, I  trust.  The  ecstacies  of  "  higher  life  "  have  not  been 
within  my  experience.  I  have  found  my  bereavements  hard 
to  bear.  The  very  name  of  "  diphtheria "  strikes  terror  to 
my  heart,  for  my  children  have  mostly  died  suddenly  with 
that  or  some  kindred  disease ;  and  it  is  only  by  comparing 
their  blessed  lives  with  our  poor,  unsatisfying  one,  that  I  can 
comprehend  the  lesson  and  bow  submissive.  My  faith  is 
simple ;  I  try  to  trust  God  in  all  things,  and,  when  the  way 
has  seemed  dark,  have  ever  found  him  waiting  with  a  bless- 
ing at  the  end.  I  am  growing  old.  My  hair  is  gray  and  I 
am  thin  in  flesh ;  but  I  feel  young,  and  am  still  able  to  tramp 
with  my  boys." 


CLASS  OF  1858. 

This  was  the  banner  class  of  our  reunion  as  regards  num- 
bers present,  and  also  in  the  fact  that,  though  twenty-two 
years  old,  and  numbering  just  twenty-two,  the  circle  is  still 
unbroken  by  death.  Its  history  may,  therefore,  be  brief, 
hoping  humbly  for  the  record  one  day  of  those  whose  "  works 
do  follow  them." 

Eleven  of  the  class  were  present,  and  at  least  thirty-six 
children  gladden  the  various  homes.     Those  present  were — 


Margaretta  [Brewer]  Dickey. 
Sarah  [Clark]  Williams. 
Linda  Dugan. 
Elizabeth  [Dugan]  Gordon. 
Mary  [Spooner]  Worcester. 
Harriet  [Thompson]  McVey. 


Caroline  [Doolittle]  Linton. 
Lucy  Gerrish. 
Mary  [Hale]  James. 
Auretta  Hoyt. 
Mary  S.  Thomasson. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY,  177 

Several  of  these  had  been  teachers,  as  well  as  others,  who 
were  absent.  One  had  been  a  missionary  among  the  Indians, 
and  of  the  absent  ones  Jennie  [Dawes]  Shedd  is  a  missionary 
at  Ooromiah,  Persia,  where  she  went  with  her  husband  soon 
after  graduation.  She  has  once  returned  to  this  country, 
leaving  her  three  eldest  children  with  their  grandparents  to 
be  educated.  Famine-stricken  Persia  has  blessed  her  hands 
and  those  of  her  husband  for  the  food  received  through  the 
generosity  of  friends  in  this  country,  as  well  as  for  the  "  bread 
and  water  of  life." 

Two  of  this  class  are  wives  of  ministers,  one  is  a  worker  in 
the  temperance  work  and  many  are  in  the  quiet  round  of  home 
duties  as  mothers,  daughters  and  sisters.  Some  for  years 
have  been  ministering  to  their  sick  ones,  while  others  have 
required  to  be  ministered  unto. 

All  have  felt  the  Master's  refining  fires,  but  in  all  the  result 
has  been  his  clearer  image.  One  has  v/alked  with  them  in 
the  fiery  furnace,  upheld  them  in  the  deep  waters,  and  all 
testify  of  his  unfailing  truth  and  love.  Letters  were  read 
from  most  of  the  absent  ones,  sending  greeting  and  blessings 
to  those  so  fortunate  as  to  meet  in  Alma  Mater  again.  All 
write  in  love  and  gratitude  for  her  influence  upon  their  lives. 

Many  rise  up  and  call  her  blessed,  but  none  honor  and 
revere  her  more  than  we.  May  heaven's  choicest  blessings 
be  upon  her! 


CLASS  OF  1859. 
Five  attended  the  reunion  : 
I»aura  [Hoyt]  King. 
Margaret  [Loughridge]  Aiken. 
Sabra  [Newton]  McLatighlin. 


Sarah  Wilkins. 

Drusilla  [Warthin]  Williams, 


Two  little  misses,  Abbie  King  and  Pearl  Williams,  accom- 
panied their  mothers. 

Two  of  the  class,  Anna  Donaldson  and  Martha  [Behan] 
Cranston  have  joined  that  happy  reunion  "  up  higher."  Al- 
though there  was  no 

' '  Touch  of  the  vanished  hand 
And  sound  of  the  voice  that  is  still, " 
12 


178  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Yet,  as  their  names  were  tenderly  spoken,  we  could  feel  their 
presence,  always  so  gentle  in  life,  and  we  fancied  their  spirits 
might  be  looking  down  upon  us  out  of  the  "  cloud  of  wit- 
nesses." Only  three  of  the  remaining  eighteen  failed  to  be 
present  or  to  send  letters  full  of  love  and  interest  for  "  dear 
Alma  Mater." 

Sue  [Davidson]  Fry  fills  a  position  at  Wesleyan  University, 
Bloomington,  111.,  where  her  husband  is  a  professor.  She 
has  been  very  active  in  woman's  mission  and  temperance 
work. 

Mrs.  Ellen  Gow,  whose  letter  to  her  pupils  read  on  reunion 
day,  gives  the  story  of  her  life,  writes,  "  It  seems  so  very 
strange  that  I  should  not  be  at  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary. 
It  was  always  my  intention  to  be  there." 

Hattie  Eastman  sends  greeting  from  her  far  off  home  in 
Burmah  with  the  wish  that  she  could  be  present.  Through 
others  we  learn  that  her  associate  missionaries,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bunker,  say,  "  If  we  had  made  out  an  order  for  a  woman,  it 
could  not  have  been  filled  more  to  our  minds."  She  has 
written  a  Life  of  Luther,  to  refute  the  teachings  of  the 
Roman  Catholic's  who  were  trying  to  lead  away  their  people, 
which  Mr.  B.  says  is  admirable.  Her  health  is  good  and  her 
labors  most  abundant. 

In  her  letter  read  on  reunion  day,  we  catch  a  glimpse  of 
her  remarkably  busy,  useful  life. 

Clarinda  [Wilkins]  Langridge  went  south  as  a  teacher  to 
the  freedmen,  where  she  married  a  gentleman  who  had 
formerly  been  a  missionary  in  Africa,  now  a  practicing 
physician  at  Montgomery,  Alabama.  She  says  the  Lord  is 
giving  her  heart  and  hands  much  work.  She  has  charge  of  a 
school  of  sixty  colored  young  ladies  and  girls  and  her  hus- 
band shows  the  true  missionary  spirit  in  filling  the  position 
of  pastor  for  the  second  colored  Baptist  church.  Laura 
Tuthill  and  Lucy  Levy,  the  largest  and  the  smallest  of  the 
class,  and  Sarah  Wilkins  are  unmarried,  and  we  doubt  not  are 
nobly  filling  the  varied  and  essential  duties  pertaining  to  the 
order  of  the  "  protestant  nuns,"  who  teach  our  schools,  are 
called  by  the  name  of  "  auntie  "  and  make  themselves  gener- 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  179 

ally  and  unselfishly  useful  in  the  home,  the  church  and 
society.  Nellie  [Force]  Childs,  in  her  old  sweet  way,  writes, 
while  convalescing  from  a  recent  illness, ''  I  shall  be  with  you 
in  spirit.  It  is  twenty-one  years  since  our  class  unclasped 
hands  to  go  our  separate  ways  pledged  to  our  class  motto, 
'  Life,  take  it  up  bravely, '  etc.  Twenty  of  those  years  I  have 
been  the  wife  of  a  pastor  and  am  to-day  the  happy,  grateful 
mother  of  nine  children,  six  daughters  and  three  sons.  Only 
four  are  left  in  our  earthly  home." 

Sallie  [Greason]  Mitchell,  Kate  [Pierce]  Treat,  Mary 
[Putnam]  Fitch,  Emma  [Mixer]  White,  Mary  [Ellis]  Row- 
ley, Maggie  [Loughridge]  Aiken,  Sabra  [Newton]  McLaugh- 
lin, Laura  [Hoyt]  King  either  reported  for  themselves  in 
person  at  the  reunion  or  in  bright  cheerful  letters  full  of  love 
and  tender  memories  of  school  life,  but  underneath  all  was 
apparent  the  undertone  of  life's  earnest  responsibilities  met 
in  womanly  strength  and  divine  grace.  Their  reports  all 
reflected  the  light  from  cosy  home  nests,  where  children  call 
them  mother  and  retiring  home  duties  take  the  place  of  the 
school  room  responsibilities  many  of  them  fulfilled  for  a  time 
after  graduation.  Emily  [Bailey]  Snow  and  Margaret  [Gufiin] 
Kackley,  though  failing  to  report,  belong  to  the  same  band  of 
home  makers.  Mrs.  Kackley  is  a  widow  with  the  care  of 
three  children  devolving  upon  her. 

Drusilla  [Warthin]  Williams  is  also  a  widow,  with  a 
son  and  daughter  left  to  her  care.  She  has  returned  to  her 
early  profession  of  teaching.  Some  members  of  the  class 
failed  to  give  the  number  of  their  children  but  at  least  sixteen 
boys,  twelve  girls  and  four  step  daughters  may  be  counted  as 
the  living  "olive  branches"  around  the  table  of  the  class 
of  '59. 


CLASS  OF  1860. 

Of  the  twenty-five  whose  names  fill  our  class-roll  only 
seven  were  permitted  to  gather  the  sunbeams  of  June  at  the 
seminary  on  her  twenty-fifth  anniversary. 

Our   number  and  her  anniversaries  that  day  were  equal, 


130  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

though  seven  were  with  the  seminary's  vanished  years  that 
wait  upon  us  in  eternity,  and  eleven  were  in  other  tents  on 
distant  fields,  still  we  were,  we  always  are,  twenty-five.  Blest 
be  the  power  that  can  immortalize ! 

Under  the  daisies  are  the  caskets,  in  heaven  the  souls,  of 
Elizabeth  [Ballard]  Walker,  Elizabeth  A.  Howell,  Harriet  N. 
Crawford,  Louisa  M.  Wasson,  Zorilda  [Brown]  Bennett,  Nancy 
J.  Williamson,  and  Martha  [Smith]  Calvert,  who,  in  the  order 
named,  have  drank  their  cup  from  the  vintage  rolling  time 
has  pressed,  "  and  one  by  one  gone  silently  to  rest." 

Mary  [Adams]  Draper,  Margaret  A.  Coles,  Mary  [Knapp] 
Clevenger,  Mary  L.  Shedd,  Anna  [Whitten]  Scott  and  Ellen 
E.  Smith,  waked  the  echoes  and  the  melody  of  memories, 
that  are  waiting  always  for  our  voices  on  the  spot  where  our 
class  stood  homeless  on  the  night  of  January  14, 1860.  It  was 
not  for  us  all  to  partake  of  the  feast,  but  blessings  have 
reached  all  from  New  England  to  California,  from  Orient  to 
Occident,  of  the  glory  of  our  celestial  season.  In  a  suite  of 
rooms,  and  in  another  not  remote,  were  clustered  our  repre- 
sentatives, and  here,  after  the  reception  of  the  first  evening, 
was  read  our  class  history,  thus  blending  the  past  with  the 
present,  joyfully  invoking  the  spirits  of  those  absent,  but  liv- 
ing tearfully  again  embalming  the  memory  of  our  sainted 
dead. 

The  class  records  exhibit  a  faithful  performance  of  our 
watchword — Act.    We  have  heeded  our  instruction, 

' '  Wake !  for  the  sun  has  scattered  into  flight 
The  stars  before  him,  from  the  field  of  night. 
The  bird  of  time  has  but  a  little  way 
To  flutter— and  the  bird  is  on  the  wing." 

Possibly  the  most  distinguished  service  for  the  Master  was 
that  rendered  by  Nancy  J.  Williamson  in  the  devotion  of  her 
entire  life  to  the  enlightenment  of  the  Sioux  and  Dacotah 
Indians.  She  published  a  little  volume — selections  from  the 
Bible  in  the  Dacotah  tongue,  and  through  this  she  yet  speaks 
to  them,  though  her  voice  is  silent  now,  save  in  the  land  of 
the  Great  Spirit,  whither  she  went  after  seventeen  years  of 
earnest  endeavor.    A  shorter,  but  not  less  acceptable  service 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  181 

was  that  of  Harriet  N.  Crawford  in  Persia,  who,  after  five 
years  came  to  us  again  seeking  the  health  which  did  not  re- 
turn, and  heaven's  portals  opened  for  her.  Others  are 
working  in  fields  white  to  the  harvest — the  wives  of  ministers ; 
others  are  demonstrating  woman's  ability  to  labor  success- 
fully in  the  field  of  mind ;  others  are  quietly  performing  the 
duties  of  wives,  mothers,  daughters,  sisters, — and  still  others 
are  serving,  though  they  "  only  stand  and  wait," — for  to  some 
has  been  given  more  of  zeal  than  strength — but, 

"  Whether  at  Naisapur  or  Babylon, 
Whether  the  cup  too  sweet,  or  bitter  run  ''— 

we  think  it  can  be  written  of  all,  "  she  hath  done  what  she 
could."  Seventeen  wear  other  names  than  those  upon  the  old 
roll.  To  almost  all  life  is  very  beautiful  in  its  earnestness, 
though  some  walk  slowly,  and  sadly,  deeming  it  a  long  jour- 
ney through  the  shadows  before  light  breaks  at  last. 

During  the  twenty  years  since  we  clasped  our  hands  to  turn 
and  go,  the  class  letter  has  made  its  annual  round  without  a 
single  failure.  Powers  have  departed,  possessions  vanished, 
opinions  changed,  but ''  affliction  cemented  the  tie,"  and  has 
rendered  our  attachment  to  pleasant  duty  invincible.  Over 
the  mountains  and  across  the  lea,  we  have  annually  signaled 
our  sisters  and  caught  the  words  "  Hail,  and  Farewell!"  But 
this  brief  chapter  must  close.  It  needs  the  limner's  pencil  to 
paint  the  picture  as  we  would  have  it,  and  on  the  ever 
precious  faces  we  beg  him  through  sifted  clouds  to  let  down 
heaven's  best,  most  golden,  sunshine. 


CLASS  OF  1861. 

The  Class  of  '61  helps  to  form  the  link  between  the  old 
seminary  and  the  new.  We  were  driven  out  of  the  old  home 
by  fire,  and  walked  the  plank  into  the  new,  for  our  diplomas. 
In  the  beginning  of  the  year  we  were  twelve,  but  Nellie  Little 
left,  and  afterward  joined  another  class.  We  studied  without 
vacation,  did  what  we  could  to  help  refurnish  the  new  home, 


^ 


182  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

and  bore,  meanwhile,  the  first  shock  of  war,  that  called  for 
our  brothers  and  dear  ones.  When  this  came  Mattie  Fry 
left  us.  She  has,  long  since,  gone  to  her  better  home,  and, 
after  a  few  years,  Jennie  Kile  joined  her.  Belle  Riggs  Wil- 
liams and  Naomi  Diament  are  missionaries  to  China ;  seven 
have  been  teachers  and  five  of  our  number  are  •  married. 
Belle  W.  has  six  children,  Ellen  J.  Dale  four  boys,  and  Anna 
S.  Clark  one,  named  Stuart.  Sallie  H.  Field  has  had  six 
children,  two  are  in  the  better  land,  and  Mary  B.  Osborn  has 
two,  with  one  gone  before.  Emma  Driggs  teaches  continu- 
ously. She  has  been  for  some  time  at  Evansville,  Ind.  Five 
were  present  at  the  reunion :  Belle  [Riggs]  Williams,  Sarah 
[Hubbard]  Field,  Mary  [Bennet]  Osborn,  Sarah  and  Mary  Eeis. 


CLASS  OF  1862. 

Sarah  [Dickinson]  Corey  lived  in  Chicago,  till  the  great  fire 
destroyed  their  property.  She  has  three  children.  Mary 
Landis,  taught  and  married.  Her  two  daughters  are  Fleta 
and  Grace.  She  writes :  "  Sarah  and  her  two  little  girls  are 
visiting  me.  I  truly  wish  more  of  my  class  could  give  me 
the  same  pleasure." 

Francis  Eells  has  devoted  herself  to  teaching,  and  to  the 
care  of  friends.  Since  the  death  of  her  sister,  she  has  been 
the  stay  and  support  of  her  aged  mother.  Her  letter  is  full 
of  gratitude  for  promises  fulfilled. 

Cornelia  [Little]  Griggs  spent  eight  years  as  a  home  mission- 
ary's wife  in  Minnesota  and  Michigan,  and  for  the  last  eight 
years  has  lived  in  Connecticut.  She  has  two  boys  and  three 
girls,  and  says  her  blessings  have  far  outweighed  her  trials. 

Mary  Moore  was  the  only  member  present  at  the  reunion. 
She  writes:  The  years  have  come  and  gone  and  I  have 
been  busy  with  the  duties  which  lay  nearest.  I  can  tell  you 
of  no  great  work;  of  no  husband  and  children,  "But  some 
one  must  fill  up  the  chinks,  and  I  hope  my  efforts  in  that 
line  may  help  the  greater  things." 

Philura  Richardson  married  Rev.  Edwin  Black,  a  Metho- 
dist minister.     They  moved  to  Tennessee,  where  she   soon 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  133 

died.  She  was  a  devoted  helper  to  her  husband.  Being  an 
only  daughter,  her  early  death  was  a  great  blow  to  her 
parents. 

From  Gainesville,  Fla.,  Anna  Snively  writes :  ''  My  father 
died  the  year  after  I  left  the  seminary.  Reverses  c  f  fortune 
led  me  into  the  schoolroom  in  70,  Though  into  my  life  some 
rain  has  fallen,  it  is  by  no  means  '  cold,  dark  and  dreary.'  My 
mother  found  rest  from  lingering  disease  in  March,  of  74. 
Since  that  time  Sister  Ada  and  I  have  lived  four  years  in 
Elkhart,  Indiana.  My  health  failing  two  years  ago,  I  resigned 
my  situation  in  the  high  school  and  am  here  for  change  and 
rest." 

Emma  F.  Sprangler  married  Amos  Southard  in  70.  I  think 
lived  in  Crawfordsville  during  her  married  life.  Died  at  the 
house  of  her  uncle,  in  Chicago,  in  72  or  73,  leaving  no  chil- 
dren. Electa  [Whitehead]  Starr  writes:  "I  taught  school 
two  years  after  leaving  the  seminary,  and  in  October,  1867,  was 
married.  We  have  five  children — two  girls  and  three  boys. 
In  1866, 1,  with  four  others  of  our  class,  had  a  pleasant  meet- 
ing at  the  seminary.  I  have  seen  Miss  Peabody's  bright  face 
once  since  at  a  missionary  meeting.  The  blessed  memories 
of  1862  have  sweetened  my  labor  and  will  sweeten  my  rest." 


CLASS  OF  1863. 

Of  this  class,  but  three  were  present  at  the  reunion — Hattie 
Conkling,  Ella  [Kendall]  Overturf,  and  Sallie  [Pond]  Baird> 
Hattie  has  been  called  to  be  a  companion  to  her  father  and 
mother,  which  duty  she  has  performed  faithfully  and  pa- 
tiently. Ella  [Kendall]  Overturf  appears  but  little  changed. 
She  is  active  in  church  work.  Her  life  has  been  full  of  bless- 
ings, her  husband  devoted,  and  her  little  daughter  most  duti- 
ful. Lida  Carnahan  was,  for  a  few  years,  the  wife  of  Rev. 
David  Love,  but  her  work  was  short ;  she  was  called  up 
higher,  leaving  two  little  girls.  Nellie  [Little]  Griggs  is  the 
happy  mother  of  five  children,  living  in  her  old  home.  It 
has  been  a  great  disappointment  to  miss  her  face  at  this  time. 


184  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Laura  [Cheseldine]  White  is  living  in  Illinois.  She  is  silent  on 
this  occasion,  much  to  our  regret.  She  has  a  son  and  daugh- 
ter. Ellen  Allen  went  to  Mexico  City  under  the  ausj^ices  of 
the  Woman's  Phila.  Board.  She  there  established  a  school, 
remaining  four  years,  when  failing  health  obliged  her  to  re- 
turn. She  is  now  making  her  home  in  Florida.  Of  Fannie 
Reid  .  we  know  nothing,  except  that  her  home  is  in  Ashta- 
bula, and  that  she  has  one  son.  Sallie  [Pond]  Baird  is  living 
in  the  home  of  her  school  days,  being  the  mother  of  two 
boys,  respectively  twelve  and  fourteen,  finding  her  hands 
well  filled  with  home  duties  and  what  church  work  she  is 
able  to  perform. 


CLASS  OF  1864. 

This  class,  which  had  but  thirteen  members,  seemed  a  little 
peculiar  in  its  make  up  and  history.  Two  had  entered  before 
the  fire  and  two  were  short  course  pupils.  Then,  when  it 
had  just  arrived  at  the  place  where  all  the  heavy  study  work 
was  done  and  the  time  had  come  to  talk  of  graduating 
exercises,  dresses,  class  organization  and  mottoes  which  would 
have  tended  to  cement  its  members  more  closely,  that 
"  noisome  pestilence  "  came  and  scattered  the  class  after  a 
hurried  meeting  together  once  more  around  the  bedside  of 
one  of  its  number.  A  sort  of  organization  was  hastily  formed 
but  there  was  no  time  to  select  a  motto.  One  or  two  class 
letters  have  been  written,  but  only  a  small  number  of  the 
class  have  ever  found  their  way  back  to  the  place  left  so 
hastily  on  May  6, 1864.  All  have  been  spared  for  that  useful- 
ness for  which  their  training  at  Alma  Mater  fitted  them. 

A  number  have  been  teachers.  Minnie  C.  Beach,  after 
some  months  work  as  teacher  among  the  freedmen  at  the 
south,  went  to  Turkey  as  a  missionary.  Ill  health  compelled 
her  to  return  to  find  her  field  of  usefulness  in  this  country. 

One  devoted  herself  to  art.  Her  sketches  grace  some  of 
our  popular  magazines  and  her  pictures  are  pronounced  of 
real  merit.  Nine  are  married  and  are  faithfully  filling  the 
beautiful  and  M^orthy  sphere  of  wife  and  mother  and  are 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  185 

useful  members  of  the  church.  All  of  them  were  professed 
Christians  before  entering  the  seminary  and  its  influence 
was  like  that  of  the  sunshine  and  showers  upon  seed  corn  in 
good  ground.  Two  of  the  class  attended  the  reunion.  Anna 
[Blaisdell]  Taylor  and  Frank  [White]  Montgomery. 

Four  sent  letters  telhng  of  duties  to  home  friends  Which 
detained  them  reluctantly.  None  boasted  of  great  things,  but 
were  simply  attending  to  the  little  duties  of  every  day  life, 
and  were  happy  in  doing  whatsoever  their  hands  found  to  do. 
The  responsibilites  and  perplexities  of  successfully  conducting 
women's  missionary  societies  engross  a  fair  share  of  the 
thought  and  time  of  several  members  of  this,  as  well  as  of 
many  other  classes. 


CLASS  OF  1865. 

The  Class  of  '65  numbered  eighteen.  Of  these  two  have 
died — Myrtle  Barber,  a  few  weeks  after  leaving  school,  and 
Laura  [Marshall]  Cunningham  in  1879.  Laura's  husband  only 
survived  her  three  months,  leaving  their  children,  two  girls 
and  one  boy,  orphans. 

Of  the  sixteen  remaining  members,  seven  were  present  at 
the  reunion:  Myra  Brown,  Florence  Carpenter,  Fannie 
Ford,  Minnie  Gow,  Belle  Howe,  Mary  Martin  and  Mary  Lau- 
der. At  least  ten  of  the  class  have  taught,  two  of  these  at  the 
seminary,  Mary  Martin  and  Julia  Smith.  Nine  of  the  class 
are  married.  Four  are  still  engaged  in  teaching ;  Clara  Mc- 
Clellan  is  a  florist,  and  Florence  Carpenter  a  bookkeeper. 
The  earnest  spirit  of  the  class  motto,  "  Dum  Vivamus  Viva- 
mus,"  has  been  wrought  out  in  the  lives  of  each  member  of 
the  class,  so  far  as  we  can  learn,  with  the  hope  that  while  we 
live  we  may  so  live  that  we  may  enter  life  eternal,  not  empty- 
handed,  but  bearing  many  sheaves. 


CLASS  OF  1866. 

The  eleven  of  "  '66 "  graduated  July  5,  under  the   motto 
"Ad  astra  per  Aspera." 


186  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Allie  [Andrews]  Lewis  writes  :  "  A  quiet,  happy  life  makes 
little  history  for  a  memorial  volume.  Two  years  housekeeper 
for  my  father,  one  year  an  invalid,  brings  me  to  the  date  of  my 
marriage.  Sister  Emma  dying  gave  me  her  little  boy  whom 
I  kept  three  years.  Last  June  an  Iowa  cyclone  lifted  our 
house  from  the  foundation  and  carried  it  away.  We  had 
taken  refuge  in  the  cellar  so  escaped  unhurt." 

Lucy  [Bell]  Riefenberick  condenses  facts  and  dates  as  follows : 

"  I  was  married  Nov.  21,  after  w^e  graduated.  Resided  in 
Cincinnati  five  years,  when  my  first  son,  Robert  Bell  was  born, 
'68.  Removed  to  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  where  Richard,  Parker 
was  born,  72,  and  where  I  still  reside." 

Rebecca  [Conklin]  Sheely  says :  "  I  remained  at  home  nine 
years,  teaching  in  Sunday-school,  leading  by  voice  and  in- 
strument our  church  music.  In  75  went  to  Colorado.  My 
trip  across  the  prairies  and  mountains  gave  new  interpreta- 
tion to  long,  familiar  passages  of  scripture,  and  the  "  shadow 
of  a  great  rock."  "  As  the  mountains  round  about  Jerusa- 
lem," and  "  Day  unto  day  uttereth  speech,"  came  with  new 
meaning.  I  was  married  76,  Rev.  Homer  Sheely.  Baby 
Allice  was  born  78;  since  77  have  resided  at  Lowell,  Ind." 

Mary  [Harriott]  Orwig  has  been  twice  married,  has  three 
children,  one  daughter  and  two  sons ;  is  now  living  at  Napo- 
leon, Ohio,  happy  in  her  home  and  church  work. 

E.  V.  Porter  writes :  "  I  spent  the  first  year  after  leaving 
the  seminary  at  home ;  the  next  year  taught  music  and  passed 
the  winter  in  Chicago ;  third  year  in  Bellefontaine ;  fourth^ 
taught  in  Marion.  After  my  father's  death  entered  a  bank  as 
bookkeej)er,  where  I  continued  until  I  was  married  in  1872. 
Jane  Porter,  my  only  child,  was  born  1874." 

Ada  B.  Klum  says :  "  I  am  like  the  knife-grinder, '  have  no 
story.'  Who  can  make  points  in  the  uneventful  life  of  a 
teacher  ?  The  years  are  so  alike.  I  can  not  tell  how  many 
have  passed  until  I  name  the  different  buildings  in  which  I 
have  taught." 

Mary  [Macy]  Carpenter  reports :  "  After  leaving  the  semin- 
ary I  was  a  governess  in  Michigan.  Taught  freedmen  in 
South  Carolina  and  a  plantation  school  in  Georgia.  So  ended 
my  career  as  a  teacher.     Some  time  passed  quietly  in  Cincin- 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  187 

nati,  and  then  I  was  married.  Bald  statistics  mean  nothing 
unless  you  can  see  within  the  boundary  lines.  I  have  tw^o 
children,  a  son  and  daughter. 

Olivia  M.  Brice  writes :  After  leaving  the  seminary,  Octo- 
ber found  me  teaching  in  the  grammar  school,  Terre  Haute? 
Ind.,  the  second  and  third  years  in  the  high  school ;  was  then 
elected  to  the  chair  of  English  literature  in  the  State  Normal 
School,  which  opened  November,  1869,  but  declined  that  honor 
to  accept  one  far  more  responsible ;  was  married  September, 
1869.  Have  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  Happy  are  the 
lives  that  make  little  history!" 

Lizzie  P.  Wilmer  writes :  "  Iibegan  teaching  August,  1866 ; 
taught  in  Northwood,  New  Hampshire ;  Holyoke  Seminary ; 
was  married  in  1875  to  E-ev.  Wm.  Wilmer,  of  Williamsport, 
Ind.,  where  we  have  since  resided.  Our  family  consists  of 
two  daughters,  eight  and  nine  years  of  age  when  they  came 
under  my  care." 

Marie  Sheely  says :  "  A  memorial  of  deeds  done  is  not 
heart  history.  Fourteen  years  of  teaching  sounds  monoton- 
ous, though  in  reality  as  varied  as  a  romance.  In  Indiana, 
Ohio,  and  Illinois,  schools  of  different  kinds  occupied  me  fully 
for  nine  years.  The  last  five  years  have  been  spent  in  suc- 
cessful primary  work.  Trials,  triumphs,  fears,  rejoicings 
crowd  the  record  into  a  few  lines." 

Our  memorial  record  closes  with  that  of  one  who  has  passed 
beyond  the  stars,  India  Thomas,  the  beloved  president  of 
our  class.  Her  dying  words,  "  I  see,  I  see,"  tell  the  story  of 
her  consecrated  life  hid  with  Christ,  exhaling  goodness  as  a 
flower  its  fragrance. 

A  few  years'  teaching  at  the  seminary,  her  chosen  field,  and 
then  to  lie  passive,  suffering  his  will.  On  being  asked  how 
long  she  had  been  afflicted,  her  cheerful  reply  revealed  the 
secret  of  her  life :  ''It  has  not  occurred  to  me  that  I  am 
afflicted."  This  tribute  to  her  beautiful  character  is  fitly 
closed  with  her  own  poetical  words : 

"  Far  mightier  than  the  one  great  law 
That  holds  both  sun  and  star, 
And  gentler  than  the  softest  breeze, 
Whispering  of  sweets  afar, 


188  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 


And  higher  than  the  heights  above, 
And  dteper  than  the  sea, 

Is  the  sweet  joy  of  converse  held, 
O,  Infinite,  with  Thee." 


CLASS  OF   1867. 

Of  Jennie  [Allen]  Everett  it  is  only  known  that  her  home 
is  in  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  two  children  have  been  given  into  her 
loving  care.  Of  Maggie  Campbell  even  less  is  known.  Lottie 
wrote  very  briefly  that  she  could  not  be  at  the  reunion  of 
the  Alumnse,  owing  to  her  school  duties.  Anna  [Carley] 
Brown  finds  her  time  filled  in  the  care  of  her  house,  husband 
and  her  blue-eyed  Bessie,  now  a  year  old.  Allie  Carnahan 
thinks  her  life  has  been  too  uneventful  to  interest  the  outside 
world,  for  her  work  has  been  close  at  home.  Hulda  [Case] 
Eeese  bakes,  cans,  preserves  and  pickles;  cuts,  fits,  makes  and 
remakes;  is  fat,  fair  and  thirty-four,  and  the  proud  mother  of 
three  healthy  children,  the  eldest  a  girl  of  seven.  Every  day 
is  full,  not  of  what  she  imagines  she  can  do  or  expects  she  will 
do,  but  of  work  actually  done.  While  she  keeps  herself 
posted  in  all  philanthropic  work  of  the  day,  she  feels  thai  the 
work  of  the  home  maker  is  the  noblest  and  most  self-denying 
of  all.  Mary  [Cathcart]  Kansdall  has  a  cosy  home.  Her 
Lottie  and  Willie  are  old  enough  to  attend  school,  while 
Minnie,  little  Dan,  his  father's  namesake,  and  a  wee  laddie, 
who  still  numbers  his  life  by  weeks,  give  her  plenty  for 
heart  and  hands.  Narcissa  Cleland  has  two  homes,  one  in 
Topeka,  Kan.,  and  the  other  in  Kirkwood,  Mo.,  where  she  has 
spent  the  last  four  years  with  her  sister.  Of  her  part  in  life 
she  thinks  there  is  nothing  to  tell,  one  year  scarcely  differing 
from  another.  She  was  the  only  one  of  the  class  present  at 
the  reunion,  and  feels  as  if  she  had  missed  some  of  the  "  loaves  " 
that  there  fell  to  others.  Amelia  [Clift]  Powell  has  attended 
many  seminary  anniversaries,  but  failed  to  be  present  at  the 
reunion.  Emma  Gordon  is  living  with  her  sister.  Many 
glad  years  and  some  of  trials  have  been  hers,  but  the  anchor 
has  held  and  a  willing  service  has  been  given  the  Master. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  189 

Laura  Hay  ward  has  taught  for  years  in  Chicago,  spending  her 
vacations  at  her  home  in  Beloit,  Wis.  This  year,  owing  to  her 
mother's  faiUng  health,  she  resigned  her  position.  Euretta 
Hurlburt  says  her  way  has  been  of  the  "  even  tenor,"  with  no 
changes,  except  those  slow  ones  wrought  by  the  "  httle  years.'^ 
In  her  teachingshe  has  learned  lessons  not  down  in  text-books. 
Some  of  us  know  of  her  "  rare  and  racy  "  experience  in  pre- 
empting a  claim  in  southern  Kansas.  Emilie  Jones  after 
having  taken  the  degree  of  M.  D.  is  the  physician  at  Wellesley 
College.  Nira  [Koogler]  Wright  says  that  the  little  lassie 
who  came  the  first  of  May  was  rather  too  young  to  attend  the 
the  august  council  of  the  Alumnae,  and  would  interrupt  too 
often  with  the  cry  of  "  hear,  hear."  She  is  willing  to  compare 
her  excellent  husband  and  six  children  with  any  one.  Of 
Nellie  Graff  and  Lou  [Leonard]  Bradley,  nothing  is  known. 
For  nine  years  Rachel  [Martin]  Burrowes  lived  at  her 
father's  doing  what  her  hands  were  able  to  do, — not  forget- 
ting the  Master's  work — till  she  was  wanted  in  another  home. 
"  She  looketh  well  to  the  ways  of  her  household,  and  eateth 
not  the  bread  of  idleness."  Her  little  daughter  Gracie  came 
a  year  and  a  half  ago,  to  add  to  her  joy.  Belle  [Shepherd] 
Hussey,  after  many  happy  years,  is  enduring  fiery  trials. 
Her  husband,  professor  in  Perdue  University,  Lafayette,  Ind., 
was  a  year  ago  stricken  with  paralysis,  which  hopelessly  shat- 
tered every  faculty.  The  care  of  him  and  the  support  of 
their  seven  children  devolve  upon  her.  Her  pitiful  letter  is 
too  sacred  for  publication,  but  her  class  will  be  glad  to  know 
that  her  trust  is  still  in  the  Lord.  Lou  [Wilkerson]  Davison 
has  also  been  greatly  afflicted,  first  in  the  loss  of  three  broth- 
ers. Two  years  ago  scarlet  fever,  in  ten  days,  swept  away  the 
two  oldest  of  her  three  little  daughters, — Katie  and  Alice. 
Recently  she  was  called  to  mourn  the  loss  of  her  mother. 
Through  it  all  she  has  tried  to  say, "  Thy  will  be  done."  Jen- 
nie [Williams]  Boyd  has  for  the  last  ten  years  been  living  in 
a  pioneer  settlement  of  south-western  Kansas,  where  she  has 
been  occupied  in  her  home  duties  and  the  care  of  her  child- 
ren. Her  two  little  girls,  seven  and  five,  died  within  one 
week  of  each  other,  leaving  their  parents  childless  and  heart- 
broken.     Since,  twins — a  boy  and  girl  have  been   born  to 


190  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

them.  They  are  more  than  three  years  old,  and  are  known 
as  Eric  and  Edith.  She  hopes  if  Edith  hves,  to  send  her  to 
the  seminary.  Two  of  the  class  have  been  called  to  better 
and  brighter  joys.  Ella  McKim  "  entered  into  her  rest "  just 
two  years  after  her  graduation.  Lizzie  Wishard  died  March 
2,  1876,  two  years  after  her  marriage.  Life  was  very  bright 
to  her,  and  she  wanted  to  live  for  the  sake  of  her  husband. 
She  wept  for  a  time  when  told  she  could  not  recover,  but 
soon  resigned  all  to  her  Savior,  and,  with  the  same  cheerful- 
ness that  had  characterized  her  in  health,  made  all  her  plans, 
and  her  life  was  beautifully  closed. 


CLASS  OF  1868. 

Scattered  far  from  Alma  Mater  and  as  far  from  each  other 
are  the  members  of  the  class  of  1868,  yet  they  are  still  bound 
to  the  old  home  and  to  one  another  by  the  watchword  chosen, 
ere  they  knew  its  full'  significance,  "Una  fides,  unum  opus, 
una  spes. " 

Three,  having  continued  in  the  faith,  have  completed  their 
work  and  are  now  realizing  the  hope  which  was  their  inspir- 
ation. Of  the  eighteen  who  remain,  one  engaged  for  a  season 
in  missionary  labor  among  the  Indians,  two  share  the  varied 
pleasures  and  trials  of  ministers'  homes;  more  are  doing 
nobly  as  teachers ;  others  in  busy  city  or  quiet  country  homes 
scatter  good  seed  by  the  way,  in  Sabbath-school  and  church 
work.  Each  has  had  her  experiences  of  joy  and  sorrow,  too 
sacred  for  the  many,  but  known  perhaps  in  the  smaller  class 
circle.  Georgie  Banks  and  Kate  O'Byrne  were  the  only 
representative  members  at  the  reunion. 

To  the  glance  of  those  who  know  them  only  as  united  by 
the  tie  which  binds  all  the  Alumnae  of  our  much-loved  sem- 
inary, the  facts  stand  thus:    Married,  eight;  teaching,  seven 
engaged  in  various  home  work,  three ;  deceased,  three. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  191 


CLASS  OF  1869. 

Of  the  Class  of  '69,  numbering  twenty-seven,  two,  Mary 
Atherton  and  Selinda  Fay,  have  "  fallen  asleep  in  Christ." 

Florence  [Adams]  Merril  writes  from  Andover,  Mass.: 
''  While  my  husband,  professor  in  Phillips  Academy,  has  two 
hundred  boys  to  look  after,  I  find  enough  with  my  home  and 
outside  life  to  interest  my  thoughts  and  energies."  She  has 
a  little  Florence  of  four  and  a  little  boy  of  two  years,  and 
bids  us  all  welcome  to  her  house,  built  before  revolutionary 
times. 

Jennie  [Ball]  Meteer  is  the  wife  of  a  minister ;  and,  we 
hear,  does  good  work  in  the  cause  of  missions.  About  a 
year  ago  Harry,  the  eldest  of  her  three  boys,  was  taken  away. 

Mary  [Bosworth]  Henderson  writes  of  her  home  life;  of 
her  two  children,  her  baby  of  ten  months,  and  little  Law- 
rence nearly  three,  who  resembles  his  mother.  They  are 
evidently  her  music  and  poetry. 

Leora  E.  Bowyer  is  a  teacher  in  the  high  school  of  Terre 
Haute.  Anticipating  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  reunion 
wdth  great  delight,  her  plans  were  changed  by  a  proposed  trip 
to  Europe. 

Sophia  [Brandkamp]  Coyle  is  the  wife  of  a  minister.  She 
tells  of  her  work  in  church,  and  Sunday-school  with  much 
pleasure ;  also,  of  her  two  blue-eyed  girls. 

Hattie  H.  Chase,  after  teaching  for  some  years,  is  now  at 
home  doing,  she  says,  the  work  that  lies  nearest.  No  doubt 
she  finds  her  willing  hands  full. 

Maria  [Cleland]  Sneed,  for  some  years  an  invalid,  has  re- 
gained her  health.  She  rejoices  in  the  possession  of  a  little 
Mary  Crosby  Sneed,  "  who  is  the  baby  of  the  land."  Little 
Phillip,  her  eldest,  was  only  lent  for  a  short  time. 

Emily  [Elliott]  Sturdevant  says,  "  I  am  happy  in  doing  the 
work  that  lies  right  here  for  me  to  do.  "  That  w^ork  is  largely 
the  care  of  four  merry  boys  and  little  Beulah,  her  "  perpetual 

joy." 

Cornelia  [Farnsworth]  Goe  writes  that  she  is  the  mother  of 
three  little  children,  "  who  occupy  much  time  and  attention ; " 


192  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

but  she  does  not  seem  to  neglect  the  pursuit  of  study  and 
cultivation  begun  at  the  seminary. 

Caroline  [Fay]  Mowery,  after  teaching  painting  at  the  semi- 
nary for  nine  years,  became  the  wife  of  a  minister  and  has  now 
two  little  living  pictures.  From  her  we  learned  of  the  peace- 
ful death  of  dear  Linda. 

Virginia  M.  Gow  was  present  at  the  reunion.  She  says  she 
lives  for  her  mother.,  but  if  you  knew  how  many  that  call  her 
sister  and  auntie  depend  upon  her,  you  would  think  her  an 
important  factor  in  many  lives. 

Eliza  Groenendyke  is  teaching  in  Lafayette,  Indiana.  She 
writes,  "My  duties  have  lain  close  about  me,  needing  no 
seeking  out ;  I  like  the  work  and  am  doing  my  best. " 

Emma  [Hoyt]  Seward  writes  of  her  work  and  interest  in 
the  church  of  which  her  husband  is  pastor.  Three  little  ones 
have  been  given  her,  one  was  early  taken  home. 

Julia  Hughes,  since  leaving  the  seminary,  has  spent  most 
of  the  years  teaching.  Last  year  she  was  a  student  at  Bloom- 
ington  University,  fitting  herself  in  special  branches  for 
future  work. 

Emma  [Isom]  Robertson  is  teaching  at  Dayton,  Ohio. 
From  others  we  hear  that  she  has  been  working  for  the  edu- 
cation of  a  brother  and  two  sisters.  She  has  been  saddened 
lately  by  the  death  of  one  of  these  sisters,  but  she  writes, 
"  Teaching  seems  more  sacred  work  since  my  affliction." 

Luella  [Rankin]  Kimball  is  not  heard  from. 

Maggie  [Kirkpatrick]  LeSourd  writes  of  her  life  as  a  min- 
ister's helper :  " I  enjoy  it  very  much;  am  never  so  happy  as 
when  engaged  in  church  work."  She  has  one  little  girl  four 
years  old. 

OUie  F.  McKimm  has  taught  nearly  all  the  time  since  leav- 
ing school,  but  is  now  at  home  with  her  mother,  and  is  "  mother 
herself  to  three  little  nieces,"  who  hardly  know  the  difference. 

Hattie  [McLane]  Ammon  was  present  at  the  twenty-fifth 
anniversary  reunion,  and  told  us  of  her  happy  and  pleasant 
home. 

,  Minnie  [Milligan]  Mills  has  done  the  two  things  she  never 
would  do,  "  Marry  a  minister  and  go  West,"  and  is  very  happy 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  193 

in  doing  both.    She  has  a  "Httle  dimpled  bit  of  humanity,  full 
of  whys  ?  and  what  is  it's  ?  "  called  Jessie. 

Alice  W.  Milligan  has,  for  some  years,  been  an  efficient 
teacher  at  the  Oxford  Seminary.  We  are  told  that  since  the 
death  of  her  father  she  has  had  the  education  of  two  brothers 
much  at  heart. 

Amelia  Myers  has  spent  the  years  in  teaching  or  studying. 
In  75  she  graduated  from  the  School  of  Elocution  at  Philadel- 
phia, and  in  79  from  the  Normal  School  at  Oswego,  N.  Y. 
She  is  now  teaching,  and  is  very  enthusiastic  in  her  pro- 
fession. 

Lucy  [Rochester]  Bowen  was  present  at  the  reunion,  not 
at  all  changed.  The  class  meeting  was  honored  by  the  pres- 
ence of  her  little  girl,  three  months  old.  Little  Meade,  her 
boy,  is  three  years  old. 

Mary  Sheppard  has  been  a  teacher_at  Oxford  ever  since  her 
graduation.  She  is  much  devoted  to  the  interests  and  welfare 
of  the  seminary,  and  adds  much  thereto  by  earnest  and  effi  - 
cient  work. 

Mary  [Wells]  French  writes :  "  My  husband's  work  is  in 
Wells  College,  thus  keeping  my  interest  alive  in  educational 
matters.  My  work  is  at  home  with  my  children."  Herbert, 
the  eldest,  is  eight ;  Harry,  two  years  old.  The  first-born  was 
their  earthly  delight  but  for  a  little  while. 


CLASS  OF  1870. 

This  class  originally  numbered  sixteen  and  is  still  unbroken 
by  death.    Seven  were  present  at  the  reunion : 


Eliza  J.  Cornell. 
Melissa  Coulson  Conover. 
Emma  Jones. 
Sue  E.  Timberman. 


Augusta  McCJoy. 
Julia  Mills  Gregg. 
Fanny  U.  Nelson. 


Seven  of  the  class  are  married  and  the  little  ones  in  their 
homes  are  fifteen  in  number.    All  but  five  have  taught  part 

13 


194  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

of  the  time  since  their  graduation ;  three  have  been  teachers 
at  the  seminary.  This  class  is  not  so  widely  scattered  as 
many  others  ;  all  but  one  are  living  in  Ohio,  Indiana  or  Illi- 
nois. The  class  letter  is  kept  in  constant  circulation,  and 
bears  repeated  testimony  that  the  class  are  seeking  to  do 
faithful  Christian  work  in  the  homes  and  the  schools  where 
the  master  has  placed  them,  and  that  they  are  learning  with 
each  returning .  year  to  trust  more  and  more  fully  in  their 
motto-promise,  "  Qui  transtulit  sustinebit." 


CLASS  OF  1871. 

The  Class  of  71  numbered  twenty-four  at  the  beginning  of 
their  senior  year,  but  only  twenty  graduated  after  the  fire  of 
April  7.  Since  that  time,  four  have  finished  their  lifework 
here,  and  w^e  feel  sure  are  waiting  for  us  in  our  father's  house. 

The  first  to  leave  us  was  Athelia  [Byers]  Hunt,  who  died  in 
the  spring  of  73,  within  a  year  after  her  marriage. 

All  through  this  same  spring  Anna  Mason  was  slowly  fad- 
ing with  consumption ;  and  one  evening  in  early  June  she 
gently  fell  asleep.  Laura  [Clough]  Hadley  died  in  August,  77, 
after  a  sickness  of  several  months,  leaving  a  boy  of  four.  On 
April  8,  '80,  Narcia  [Goodfellow]  Risser  was  suddenly  called  to 
the  Savior  she  trusted.  She  left  four  little  children,  Fred  and 
Helen,  Mary  and  baby  John.  She  was  most  tenderly  devoted 
to  them  and  to  her  husband,  and  was  the  life  and  light  of  their 
home. 

Carrie  [Alexander]  LaGrange  is  very  happily  married,  but 
the  loss  of  two  little  babes  has  made  a  deep  shadow  in  their 
home. 

Ella  [Bane]  Bowen  was  the  first  of  the  class  to  venture  into 
matrimony,  and  her  seven-year-old  Willie  is  the  "  class  baby." 

Louise  [Bissell]  Bacon  spent  a  year  at  Mt.  Holyoke ;  studied 
music  and  taught  before  her  marriage.  She  has  three  little 
ones,  Harry,  Laura  and  Bessie,  to  keep  her  busy. 

Lida  [Bushnell]  Byal  tixught  for  several  years  after  leaving 
school ;  she  has  one  child,  Albert,  about  four  years  old. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  I95 

Emma  Calhoun  chose  missionary  work  among  the  Dakota 
Indians.  She  was  married  there  to  Rev.  C.  L.  Hall,  and 
moved  to  Ft.  Berthold.  God  took  little,  Harry,  their  oldest, 
but  they  have  two  with  them,  Bertie  and  baby  Hannah. 
Emma  is  very  happy  in  her  work.  Ella  Clark's  health  has 
been  delicate- for  several  years,  and  she  has  spent  most  of  the 
time  traveling,  finding  benefit  in  Southern  California.  Nellie 
[Cleland]  Craig  writes  of  her  busy  life  and  two  children,  George 
and  Nellie.  Sophie  Cunningham  taught  at  the  seminary  the 
year  after  graduating;  afterwards  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  and 
Springfield,  111.  For  several  years  she  has  found  her  sweetest 
pleasure  and  duty  in  staying  with  her  mother  at  their  home 
in  Jonesboro,  Tenn.  Lydia  Dimon  has  taught  all  of  the  time 
since  graduating,  principally  in  high  schools.  Sallie  Gamble 
has  also  taught  for  nine  years,  and  all  of  the  time  in  Conners- 
ville,  Ind.,  in  which  state  she  ranks  among  the  first  of  primary 
teachers.  Anna  Hopkins  is  still  devoted  to  painting,  and 
is  very  successful.  She  has  taught  several  years  in  the  School 
of  Design.  Eliza  [Hougham]  Hickman  is  happy  as  the  wife  of 
a  Methodist  minister,  and  the  mother  of  two  little  daughters. 

Emma  Hughes  has  found  life  at  home  so  pleasant  that  she 
has  not  cared  to  change  it  for  any  other,  but  is  useful  as  the 
only  daughter.  Mary  [Needham]  Gregg  has  fulfilled  her 
prophecy  of  "  marrying  a  minister."  She  studied  music  in 
Boston  before  her  marriage.  Two  children  claim  her  love 
and  care — Jamie  and  Faith.  Eosa  Rabb  was  her  father's  con- 
stant nurse  till  he  died,  and  since  then  has  a  pleasant  home 
with  an  invalid  friend,  to  whose  little  daughter  she  teaches 
music.  Eva  Sherwood  writes  of  a  busy  life  in  church  and 
society.  She  is  still  studying  music.  Binnie  [Snyder]  Bailey 
spent  several  years  in  Munich,  studying  music.  On  her  re- 
turn she  was  married  to  a  Universalist  minister  of  Cincin- 
nati, but,  his  health  failing,  they  went  west,  and  her  address 
is  not  known.  She  has  one  little  daughter.  Nannie  Wason 
Ames  spent  a  year  with  friends  in  Boston,  also  studying 
music  and  designing,  and  afterward  taught  a  year  in  Chicago. 
She  has  a  pleasant  home  near  Lowell,  Ind.,  and  a  busy  life  in 
looking  after  her  two  little  boys,  Carlie  and  Ray.    Mary 


196  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

[White]  Lavayea  has  one  child,  a  few  months  old,  but  the  class 
have  not  heard  from  her  since  leaving  school.  Mary  [Will- 
son]  Whitehead  taught  in  Indianapolis,  after  recovering  from 
injuries  received  at  the  fire,  till  her  marriage  to  a  lawyer  of 
that  city.  She  has  two  little  daughters,  Emma  and  Mary.  A 
class-letter  is  circulated,  and  the  class  love  grows  stronger 
each  year.  Ouly  five  were  at  re-union:  Sophie  Cunning- 
ham, Anna  Hopkins,  Emma  Hughes,  Rosa  Rabb,  and  Nannie 
[Wason]  Ames. 


CLASS  OF  1872. 

At  the  reunion  there  were  present,  Minnie  Perkins,  Anna 
[Whallon]  Mills,  and  Mary  Coulson.  They  held  class  meet- 
ings, read  the  messages  from  absent  ones,  and  discussed  class- 
matters  generally,  but  with  a  feeling  of  loneliness.  This  class 
is  still  an  unbroken  band,  and,  though  its  members  are 
widely  scattered,  they  have  kept  up  a  class  letter.  Many  of 
them  were  absent  from  the  reunion,  because  of  home  and 
school  duties,  but  sent  letters  to  their  beloved  Alma  Mater^ 
for  the  occasion. 

Mary  Allen  was  married  to  Rev.  Wm.  Whipple  in  July^ 
1872,  and  in  a  few  weeks  went  to  Persia.  They  remained 
nearly  seven  years,  when  they  returned  on  account  of  ill 
health.  While  in  Persia  two  sons  and  a  daughter  were  born 
to  them,  but  God  called  home  little  Willie  and  Max  in  1876. 
Mary  and  her  husband,  with  their  little  Mildred,  spent  part 
of  the  years  1879  and  1880  at  their  old  home,  Rockville,  Indi- 
ana. In  April,  1880,  with  restored  health  and  strength,  they 
returned  to  Persia.  On  their  way  to  New  York  they  stopped 
at  the  seminary  a  few  days.  There  Minnie  Perkins  and 
Mary  Coulson  met  them  and  had  a  short  but  delightful  visit. 
Mary's  lot  in  life  seems  to  be  a  most  blessed  one.  She  is  an 
earnest,  hopeful  Christian  and  so  happy  in  her  chosen  sphere. 
Her  prayer  for  her  class-mates  will  never  be  forgotten  by  the 
two  who  were  with  her  in  that  memorable  "  recess-meeting," 
held  on  the  Sabbath  evening  of  their  reunion. 

Hattie  Boal  became  Mrs  Robert  Peeples  in   1873.    Her 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  197 

home  is  in  Ashland,  Kentucky.  She  has  two  lovely  little 
children — Robert  and  baby.  Hattie  is  said  to  be  a  model  wife 
and  mother,  and  is  very  happy. 

Mary  and  Alice  Blythe  are  conducting  a  kindergarten  in 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri.  They  are  active,  useful  Christians,  and 
their  sisterly  devotion  to  each  other  is  still  beautiful. 

Mary  Coulson's  home  is  in  Oxford,  Ohio,  where  she  tnught 
in  the  high  school  for  several  years.  She  is  very  enthusiastic 
and  happy  in  her  work,  and  is  actively  engaged  in  the  Sab- 
bath-school and  church.  She  has  the  privilege  of  seeing  fre- 
quently her  Alma  Mater  and  seminary  friends.  She  wishes 
that  all  the  Alumnae  could  enjoy  the  same  privilege,  for  every 
visit  to  the  seminary  prompts  and  encourages  more  faithful 
Christian  living. 

Alice  Dean  has  taught  most  of  the  time  since  she  graduated. 
Devotion  to  her  invalid  mother  prevented  her  being  present 
at  the  reunion.  We  hear  a  good  report  of  her  service  for 
Christ. 

Kate  Dwyer  has  filled  the  honorable  and  useful  position  of 
teacher  much  of  the  time  since  1872,  but  is  resting  at  home 
this  year.  She  is  an  earnest,  active  laborer  for  Christ  in  the 
temperance  cause,  and  in  other  departments  of  church  work^ 

Minnie  Perkins  has  accomplished  much  as  a  dutiful  daugh, 
ter  and  faithful  teacher.  She  and  her  mother,  on  account  of 
ill-health,  spent  part  of  last  year  in  Texas.  She  is  an  only 
daughter,  and  her  devotion  to  her  mother,  who  is  in  declining 
years  and  broken  health,  is  worthy  of  highest  conmendation. 
Minnie  has  her  mother  with  her  in  Troy,  and  is  very  happy 
in  her  manifold  home  and  school  duties. 

Eva  Tweed  was  married  in  1874.  She  has  two  little  girls, 
Lizzie  and  Lucina.  ,  Eva  writes  that  her  life  is  full  of  home 
cares,  and  that  she  is  very  happy. 

Anna  [Wallon]  Mills  at  the  reunion  spoke  enthustically  of 
her  good  husband  and  her  delightful  Chicago  home.  Her 
bright  face  and  joyous  tones  verified  the  truth  of  her  words. 
Anna  uses  her  leisure  and  means  in  doing  good.  She  is 
specially  interested  at  present  in  some  city  missionary  work 
for  the  Chinese  of  Chicago. 


198  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Mattie  [Zook]  Rhorer  has  two  children,  Cleland  and  Helen. 
She  writes  about  her  "home-keeping"  and  her  church  work, 
and  of  her  pleasure  in  these  duties.  All  honor  to  our  western 
pioneer  sister  in  the  Rocky  mountains. 

The  married  members  of  the  Class  of  72  all  have  influ- 
ential positions  and  rare  opportunities  for  usefulness.  May 
God  bless  all  of  us  in  our  various  paths  of  duty ;  may  he  help 
us  to  be  faithful  unto  the  end,  and  grant  us  an  abundant  en- 
trance into  heaven,  and  a  full  and  glorious  reunion  there. 


CLASS  OF  1873. 

The  Class  of  73  numbered  seventeen  at  the  beginning  of  its 
senior  year.  But  the  circle  was  soon  broken,  for  early  in 
December  Miss  Williams'  health  gave  way  and  she  decided  to 
return  to  her  home  at  Savannah,  Missouri.  This,  however, 
she  was  unable  to  do,  and  on  December  ]7  her  classmates 
gathered  about  her  coffined  form  for  a  last  look  at  the 
face  they  loved  so  well.  Her  cousin,  Miss  Waterman,  worn 
with  watching  and  sorrow,  accompanied  the  remains  to  their 
home  and  found  it  impossible  to  return. 

Retta  Sheeley,  Emma  Crawford  and  Mary  McKinney  were 
disabled  by  sickness  and  when  the  class  of  73  gathered  upon 
the  platform  to  receive  their  diplomas  from  the  hands  of  Dr. 
Nelson  they  numbered  but  eleven.  The  first  wedding  was 
that  of  Carrie  Collins  and  Eugene  L.  Pattin,  May,  1874,  and 
the  following  spring  the  class  awarded  the  silver  cup  to 
Gracie  Pattin.  In  June,  1874,  Emma  Eastman  married  Jerome 
L.  Love,  M.  D.,  and  the  doctor  took  his  bride  to  a  new  home 
in  Whiting,  Kansas.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  Emma 
Crawford  became  Mrs.  Samuel  Taggart,  but  before  a  year 
had  elapsed  her  place  in  the  class  letter  w^as  filled  by  one 
from  her  mother,  telling  the  story  of  Emma's  death. 

In  January,  '76,  Jas.  Y.  Herrick,  a  lawyer  of  Wellington ^ 
Kansas,  took  Cordie  Wood  to  his  western  home.  The  class 
letter  of  '77-8  contained  the  photograph  of  Rev.  O.  Wright, 
who,  in  October,  '77,  had  induced  Minnie  Starr  to  become  his 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  199 

assistant  in  a  new  missionary  field  in  western  Kansas.  Emma 
Hutchinson  has  become  Mrs.  B.  C.  Davis.  In  Mrs.  Pattin's 
family  there  are  now  two  little  girls,  Grace  and  Augusta ;  in 
Mrs.  Love's,  two  boys,  Arthur  i^nd  Robert,  and  their  little 
sister  Idella;*Mrs.  Herrick  rejoices  in  the  possession  of  two 
sons,  Harold  and  Walter,  and  Mrs.  Wright  calls  her  one  boy 
Frederick  Starr.  Miss  Olmstead  remained  at  the  seminary 
for  five  years  after  her  graduation ;  then  went  to  Mill's  Semi- 
nary, Brooklyn,  Gal.,  for  two  years,  and  is  now  in  far-away 
Siam.  The  public  schools  of  Ghio,  Indiana  and  Iowa  have 
for  the  past  seven  years  been  the  scene  of  the  labors  of  Miss 
Ellis,  Miss  Sheeley  and  Miss  Gobb,  and  Mary  Dickey  has  been 
for  the  greater  part  of  that  time  a  teacher  in  the  Lenox  Insti- 
tute, Hopkinton,  la.  Sallie  Waterman,  and  Emma  Vawter 
have  gone  with  their  parents  to  new  homes  in  southwestern 
Galifornia,  and  the  rest,  Mary  Dame,  Mary  Nelson  and  Mary 
McKinney,  though  engaged  in  teaching  part  of  the  time, 
have  found  their  work  to  lie,  principally,  in  their  own  homes. 
Emma  Hutchinson  and  Laura  Olmstead  represented  us  at 
the  reunion. 


GLASS  OF  1874. 

The  Class  of  '74  was  composed  of  the  mystic  number  "  seven." 

These  lamps,  carefully  burnished  by  our  Alma  Mater,  were 

sent  forth  to  make  little  circles  of  light  in  the  darkness.     The 

world  has  not  been  dazzled  by  their  brilliancy,  but  they  have 

brightened  homes  and  sent  some  gleams  beyond. 

At  our  reunion  Houtie  McCoy,  Sara  Robinson  and  Virginia 
Dare  were  present.  These  three  have  been  principally  occu- 
pied with  home  duties,  which,  though  homely  at  times,  have 
been  made  more  acceptable  by  the  breath  of  love  that  clings 
to  them.  Sara  and  Houtie  have  each  taught  a  short  time,  but 
they  are  by  no  means  wedded  to  the  profession.  Mary  Chid- 
law,  who  did  not  graduate,  but  whom  the  class  has  always 
claimed,  was,  at  the  time  of  the  reunion,  traveling  in  the  old 
world.  Our  president,  Julia  Baldwin,  soon  after  graduating, 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  a  teacher,  but  Mr.  Nichols,  appre- 


200  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

elating  her  good  qualities,  persuaded  her  to  accept  another 
situation.  She  writes  to  those  of  her  class,  who  are  not  quite 
sure  of  their  mission,  that  they  will  certainly  find  it  in  married 
life.  Emily  Robinson  has  been  engaged  in  type  writing,  a 
Avork  which  she  has  very  much  enjoyed.  In  July,  77,  the 
message  came  that  in  the  hush  of  the  summer  twilight  one  of 
the  members  of  74  had  been  laid  to  rest.  Ada  Curran,  had 
slie  lived,  Avould  have  been  the  missionary  of  the  class.  She 
was  only  prevented  by  failing  strength  from  devoting  her  life 
to  the  work  for  which  her  heart  yearned.  If  we  "  count  time 
by  heart-throbs  for  God,  for  man,  for  duty,"  she  lived  long  and 
her  short  life  was  complete. 

The  history  of  the  class  would  scarcely  be  finished  without 
mention  of  the  class  letter,  which  has  constantly  been  a  bond 
of  union  and  strength.  It  travels  the  small  circuit  several 
times  a  year,  and  is  cordiallv  welcomed. 


CLASS  OF  1875. 

The  Class  of  75  numbered  twentj^-six.  Twelve  were  pres- 
ent at  reunion,  viz :  Anna  [Carson]  Dillman,  Ida  Dare,  Lucy 
Eastman,  Flora  Ellis,  Alice  Gibson,  Julia  Kitchel,  Kate 
McCleery,  Sophronia  Pike,  Margaretta  [Thomas]  Thompson, 
Maria  Wason,  Harriet  Whallow,  and  Jennie  [McCleery]  Shel- 
ler.  Letters  were  received  from  Virginia  Dickey,  Annie 
[Turner]  Morgan,  and  Emma  Trimble.  Annie  Pendleton 
and  Margaret  Wade  were  prevented  from  coming  by  poor 
health.  Seventeen  of  the  class  have  taught.  Annie  [Turner] 
Morgan  is  a -missionary  in  Kurnool,  India.  Sophronia  Pike 
is  under  appointment  of  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  to  go  to  Fort  Bert- 
hold,  Dakota,  as  a  missionary  to  the  Indians.  Nine  of  the 
class  are  married,  and  we  claim  four  girls  and  one  boy,  of 
whom  Ruth  Edna  Morgan  is  the  eldest.  Since  the  anni- 
versary of  75,  one  of  our  number,  dear  Alice  Conkling  has 
been  called  above  to  learn  the  full  meaning  of  the  class  motto, 
"  Unto  Him  that  Overcometh." 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  201 


CLASS  OF  1876. 

"  There  are  buds  that  fold  within  them, 

Closed  and  covered  from  our  sight; 
Many  a  richly  tinted  petal, 

Ope'd  to  view  by  warmth  and  light." 

The  second  week  in  September,  1876,  found  nineteen  buds 
of  the  above  description  exposing  themselves  to  the  rays  of  a 
glorious  orb,  viz.,  the  Western  Female  Seminary.  As  regards 
the  intensity  of  those  rays,  or  the  amount  of  heat  required  to 
develop  these  particular  buds,  your  historian  need  not  write ; 
since  of  the  qualities  of  this  "radiator"  "you  all  yourselves 
do  know." 

Suffice  to  say  that  June  17,  1875,  found  this  cluster  at  the 
end  of  the  process  radiant  in  those  colors  which  betoken  joy 
and  good  cheer  ;  with  scarce  a  tint  of  purple  or  sombre  fore- 
telling trials. 

After  four  years  had  passed  rapidly  away,  eleven  of  us  met 
again  at  the  seminary.     Those  present  were : 


Sue  E.  Ballard, 
Alice  LCraig]  Poyntz, 
Belle  S.  Dix, 
Mattie  J.  Hill, 
Julia  A.  Lamson, 


Elizabeth  M.  Nelson, 

Jennie  [O'Byrne]  Montgomery, 

Emma  H.  Paige, 

Julia  [Shuler]  Craft, 

Eva  Landis  Trout, 


Jennie  M.  Timberman. 

Letters  of  regret  were  received  from  the  absent,  breathing 
warmest  love  for  "Alma  Mater,"  among  them  one  from 
Myra  [Calhoun]  LongfelloAV,  who  has  for  three  years  been  a 
missionary  in  Dakota.  Six  are  married;  four  engaged  in 
school  work,  two  of  whom  are  teaching  at  the  seminary,  while 
the  others  are  practicing  in  some  way  the  good  lessons  so 
faithfully  taught  them.  Changes  have  come  to  all,  but  death 
has  not  been  suffered  to  take  any  from  her  work. 

Four  years  had  wrought  little,  if  any,  change  in  our  class- 
mates. When  we  looked  into  the  faces  of  those  who  had  been 
away  four  and  twenty  years,  then  could  we  see  what  real 


202  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

change  was.     We  felt  that  time  had  touched  us  hghtly,  and 
that  our  feet  were  scarcely  dry  after  the  morning  dew. 

When  the  sun  has  been  too  hot,  a  cloud  has  sheltered  us, 
and  when  the  clouds  became  too  dark,  the  sun  lighted  our 
pathway. 


CLASS  OF  1877. 

Though  our  class  was  made  up  largely  of  members  from 
other  classes,  we  have,  since  our  graduation,  been  closely 
united  in  living  out  our  motto,  ''  Age  Quod  Aga,s. "  Of  our 
thirteen,  nine  have  taught,  three  or  four  have  continued  their 
pursuit  of  knowledge,  four  are  married,  and  some  have  been 
nurses  and  helpers  at  home. 

Ada  Kingsbury  is  a  missionary  in  Utah.  Kate  Giltner  hjis 
charge  of  the  first  class  baby.  Lillie  Adams,  Leila  McKee^ 
Emily  Waterman  and  Candace  Lhamon  were  the  only  rep- 
resentatives at  the  reunion.  Our  prospects  for  the  future  are 
favorable  to  the  earnest  Christian  work  for  which  our  Alma 
Mater  has  prepared  us. 


CLASS  OF  1878. 

The  Class  of  78,  composed  of  twelve  members,  has  been  so 
widely  scattered  since  it  left  its  Alma  Mater  that  only  one  of 
its  number,  Ida  Robbins,  was  present  at  the  reunion  to 
receive  the  warm  welcome  of  its  dear  school-home  and  teacher 
mother.  Of  the  whole  number,'  half  ha;ve  at  some  time  en- 
gaged in  teaching ;  Wisconsin,  Illinois,  Utah,  Ohio  and  Con- 
necticut being  the  better  we  hope  for  their  work.  The  call 
of  the  Master  for  laborers  in  his  far  distant  harvest-fields 
came  to  the  hearts  of  three  of  our  number,  who  quickly 
responded  to  the  voice  with  a  prompt,  "  Here  am  I,  send  me. " 
Our  three  C's,  Mary  Campbell  and  Edna  Cole  in  Siam,  and 
Fannie  Cundall  in  Syria,  are  our  dear  missionaries  whose 
letters,  abounding  in  beautiful  descriptions  of  their  far  off 
homes  and  full  of  devotion  to  their  work,  are  our  most 
precious  class  treasures.    Among  those  who  entered  the  ranks 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  203 

as  educators,  two  are  already  deserters,  and  while  we  regret 
the  loss  of  our  Archie  Hatcher  and  Marion  Allen,  we  welcome 
in  their  places  Mrs.  Tiffany  and  Mrs.  Martindell  and  gladly 
extend  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  to  our  new  brothers- 
in-law.  The  remaining  four  members  of  the  class  have  found 
their  work  in  a  quiet  way,  making  homes  for  dear  brothers 
and  brightening  those  provided  by  loving  friends.  They  also, 
with  their  sisters,  have  found  a  place  among  the  ranks  of 
church  and  Sabbath  school  workers  and  are  teachers  or 
officers,  pupils  or  superintendents,  as  the  call  comes  to  them. 
Inspired  by  our  motto,  "Omnia  ad  Dei  Gloriam,"  whether 
at  home,  in  the  school-room  or  in  the  foreign  fields,  we  are 
united  in  purpose ;  and  distance  can  not  separate  us,  though 
measured  by  great  continents  and  vast  oceans. 


CLASS  OF  1879. 
Ten  of  our  class  were  present  at  the  reunion — ■ 


Helen  Lyle, 
Helen  Taylor, 
Irene  Jones, 
Fannie  Laurie, 
Maggie  Johnston. 


Anna  Eumler, 
Hoyland  Taylor, 
Rowie  Tucker, 
Clavie  Laurie, 
Ida  Matson. 


We  held  our  class  meeting  in  ISTo.  23,  Class  of  78  gathering 
with  us. 

At  our  meeting  theresponses  to  the  invitations  from  "  Alma 
Mater  "  were  read.  We  found  that  several  of  our  number 
had  been  teaching  during  the  year ;  others  had  joined  the 
Chautauqua  Literary  and  Scientific  Circle,  and  some  were 
found  in  the  quiet  home  circle  living  wholly  for  others ;  all 
were  more  or  less  engaged  in  Sabbath-school  work. 

In  review  our  harvest  seemed  very  small,  compared  with 
the  sheaves  other  gleaners  had  brought ;  but  we  left  the  arms 
of  "  Alma  Mater  "  only  one  short  year  ago.    We  trust  that  in 


204  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

twenty -five  years  we  may  bring  an  abundant  harvest  into  the 
great  "store  house." 


CLASS  OF  1880. 

"  What  can  the  man  do  that  cometh  after  the  king  ?"  Or 
what  mite  of  interest  can  this  chronicler  add  to  the  royal 
good  things  that  have  been  written  ?  Our  record  remaineth 
for  the  future. 

The  Class  of  '80  numbers  nineteen.  Kansas,  Illinois,  Indi- 
ana, Ohio,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  are  represented  by  its 
members.  The  average  age  of  our  class  is  nineteen  years. 
March  8, 1880,  was  made  illustrious  by  having  one  of  its  after- 
noon hours  devoted  to  the  planting  of  the  class-tree — a  noble 
elm  (?) — with  accompanying  exercises.  Mr.  Chas.  Peabody 
kindly  provided  us  with  the  desired  sapling,  and  attached  to 
it  a  piece  of  zinc  on  which  was  written  in, lead,  "  W.  F.  Semi- 
nary, Class  of  '80,"  trusting  it  would  remain  to  tell  future 
classes  of  our  love  for  Alma  Mater.  Immediately  after  hall 
exercises,  with  many  friends  and  teachers  we  gathered  at  the 
front  door  and  moved  in  procession  to  the  north  of  the  build- 
ing— the  place  chosen  for  the  planting. 

The  tree  was  carried  by  Ella  Adams  and  Clara  Vawter — 
the  Alpha  and  Omega  of  the  class.  An  appropriate  song  was 
sung,  Mr.  Peabody  made  some  very  pleasant  remarks  upon 
class-tree  planting  and  the  beautiful  elms  of  New  England, 
closing  with  the  hope  expressed  that  we  might  all  live  to 
meet  again  under  its  spreading  branches.  An  amusing  des- 
cription of  each  member  of  the  class  was  read  by  Ella  Adams. 
A  poem  full  of  good  wishes  for  the  future  prosperity  of  class 
and  tree,  written  by  Lena  Goodenow,  was  read  by  Clara 
Vawter.  Then  followed  the  planting.  Soon  cries  for  Miss 
Peabody  were  heard.  She  stepped  forward  and  quoted  with 
much  effect.  Psalms  i,  3 — "  He  shall  be  like  a  tree  planted  by 
the  rivers  of  water,  that  bringeth  forth  his  fruit  in  his  season ; 
his  leaf  also  shall  not  wither  ;  and  whatsoever  he  doeth  shall 
prosper ;"  after  which  three  cheers  were  given  for  the  class  of 
'80.    Our  class  motto,  "  Seeketh  not  her  own  "  is  beautifully 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  205 

exemplified  in  Mary  Clark's  offering  herself  for  the  foreign 
field,  so  white  to  the  harvest.  She  is  now  on  her  way  to 
famine-stricken  Persia,  beaiing  the  bread  of  life.  We  trust 
that  her  consecration  may  inspire  us  with  a  higher  aspiration, 
and  that  we  may  by  our  prayers,  stay  up  the  hands  of  her, 
our  standard  bearer. 


CATALOGUE. 


.  1855-1880. 

TRUSTEES. 

Rev.  Daniel  Tenney .from  1853  to  1861 

^Rev.  Wm.  M.  Cheever from  1853  to  1872 

Rev.  J.  B.  Condit,D.  D from  1853  to  1855 

Rev.  J.  C.  Bonham from  1853  to  1864 

S.  F.  Claflin from  1853  to  1855 

*H.  VanBergen from  1853  to  1858 

^Rev.  S.  W.  Fisher,  D.  D from  1853  to  1859 

James  Fisher from  1853  to  1861 

*G.Tichenor from  1853  to  1855 

*R.  E.  Hills ..from  1853  to  1864 

R.  L.  Rea,  M.  D from  1853  to  185^ 

G.Y.  Roots from  1853  to 

^EliasKumler from  1853  to  1872 

*Rev.  Thomas  Spencer from  1853  to  1860 

Milton  Sayler,  A.  B from  1853  to  1859 

*John  Ells from  1853  to  1862 

Rev.  J.  M.  Bishop from  1855  to 

^Rev.  D.  H.  Allen,  D.  D from  1855  to  1868 

Robert  W.  Burnet from  1855  to  1859 

*John  H.  Shuey , from  1855  to  1869 

Rev.  H.  Little,  D.D from  1859  to 

^Philip  Hinkle from  1859  to  1880 

*Wm  B.  Moores from  1859  to  1870 

Rev.  E.  R  Pratt,  D.  D from  1861  to 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  207 

Wm.  S.  Hubbard from  1861  to  1864 

*A.  D.  E.  Tweed from  1862  to  1878 

L.  C.  Hopkins from  1862  to  1863 

Wm.  Shafer from  1863  to  1871 

S.  J.  Thompson..,. irom  1865  to 

^Joseph  Curtis from  1865  to  1871 

Prof.  E.  W.  McFarland from  1866  to  1876 

Rev.  Henry  A.  Nelson,  D.D from  1868  to  1875 

Preserved  Smith from  1869  to 

Rev.  J.  L.  McKee,  D.  D.., from  1870  to  1874 

^Joseph  McCord from  1870  to  1879 

'   Rev.  J.  P.  E.  Kumler from  1871  to 

Rev.  Wm.  H.  VanVleck from  1872  to 

Wm.  Reynolds from  1872  to  1877 

Rev.  0.  A.  Hills,  D.  D from  1875  to 

John  H.  Winters from  1875  to  1879 

Rev.  Francis  M.  Wood .....from  1877  to 

-^Prof.  Caleb  Mills from  1877  to  1880 

<=  Deceased. 

PRINCIPAL : 

Names.                                        Time  spent  at  Seminary. 
Miss  Helen  Peabody from  1855  to   

TEACHERS. 

Mary  E.  Parsons , from  1855  to  1856 

Mary  Q.  Brown from  1855  to  '56  and  1861  to  1862 

Adelia  C.  Walker from  1855  to  1863 

Mary  0.  Nutting from  1855  to  1856 

Elizabeth  0.  Harrington from  1855  to  1856 

Abbie  C.  D.  Goulding from  1855  to  1856 

Sarah  L.Utley from  1855  to  1857 

M.  Augusta  Chapin.... from  1855  to  1356 

Philena  McKeen ....from  1856  to  1859 

Jane  C.  Tolman from  1856  to  1858 

*Phebe  F.  McKeen .from.  1856  to  1859 

-^ElizaM.  McCabe ....from  1856  to  1863 

Maria  H.  Beardslee from  1856  to  1858 


208  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Names.  Time  spent  at  Seminary. 

L.  Amanda  Whiting from  1856  to  1864 

Mary  H.  Foster from  1856  to  1865 

Eliza  J.  Strong from  1856  to  1858 

*Rhoda  S.  Driggs from  1857  to  1860 

Emma  L.  Higley from  1858  to  1860 

Auretta  Hoyt from  1858  to  1860 

Sarah  Mills. from  1859  to  1860 

Ellen  Gow from  1859  to  1871 

Susan  S.  Brown from  1861  to  1862 

*Mrs.  Elizabeth  Walker from  1861  to  1864 

Emily  Jessup from  1862  to  1*80 

Anna  H.  Whitten .......from  1862  to  1864 

Cornelia  Little from  1862  to  1864 

Mary  Adams from  1863  to  1864 

Mary  J.  Eager from  1863  to  1864 

^Harriet  J.  Bassett from  1863  to  1865 

Sarah  P.  Morrison from  1863  to  1865 

Lydia  H.  Putnam from  1863  to  1864 

Cynthia  K.  Goulding from  1863  to  1868 

Ellen  W.  Bushnell from  1864  to  1869 

Hannah  Maude  Hunt from  1864  to  1865 

Helen  C.  Fisher from  1864  to  1865 

Sarah  R.  Hubbard from  1864  to  1865 

Mary  J.  Bennett from  1864  to  1865 

Plarriet  Hawes from  1864  to  1877 

AdaL.  Howard from  1865  to  1866 

Mary  B.  Treat... from  1865  to  1867 

Mary  McLean from  1865  to  1867 

Julia  Smith from  1865  to  1868 

Mary  J.  Martin from  1865  to  1868 

Mary  J.  Blake from  1865  to  1868 

Mrs.  J.  C.  Swing from  1865  to  1869 

Sarah  P.  Eastman from  1866  to  1870 

Sarah  P.  Janes from  1866  to  1880 

*India  A.  Thomas from  1866  to  1870 

Olivia  Read from  1866  to  1868 

Elizabeth  K.  Peabody from  1868  to  1875 


TWENTY^FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  209 

■n  Mimes.  Ti7)ie  spent  at  Seminary. 

Emilie  Jones,  M.  D from  1868  to  1874 

Julia  C.  Turner from  1868  to  1869 

Emma  J.  Stocks from  1868  to  1869 

Helen  M.  Nelson from  1869  to  1871 

Sarah  M.  Smith from  1869  to  1874 

Mary  D.  Sheppard from  1869  to 

Lucy  D,  Rochester from  1869  to  1871 

Caroline  E.  Fay from  1869  to  1878 

Lydia  W.  Shattuck from  1870  to  1871 

Minnie  Gow from  1870  to  1871 

Abbie  L.  Burgess from  1870  to  1874 

Sophia  M.  Cunningham from  1871  to  1872 

Hettie  M.  Dodd from  1871  to  1874 

Mrs.  W.  J.  Kumler.... from  1871  to  1872 

Caroline  D.  White from  1872  to 

Fannie  U.  Nelson from  1872  to  1876  and  1877  to  1878 

Fannie  E.  Johnson from  1872  to  1873 

Laura  A.  Olmstead from  1873  to  1878 

Julia  C.  Ehorer from  1873  to  1875 

Alice  P.  Goodwin from  1873  to  1874 

Emma  L.  Isom from  1874  to  1875 

Susan  E.  Timberman from  1874  to  1880 

Harriet  C.  Day from  1878  to  1880  and  1874  to  1875 

Martha  E.  Dickinson from  1874  to  1875 

Sarah  Skinner from  1875  to 

Eliza  J.  Cornell from  1875  to  1879 

Alice  B.  Gibson ...from  1875  to  1877 

Annetta  P.  Kimball from  1875  to  1878 

Anna  E.  Leonard from  1875  to 

Ellen  E.  Smith from  1876  to  1877 

Julia  A.  Shuler from  1876  to  1877 

Alice  W.  Milligan from  1877  to 

Emma  H.  Paige ,. from  1877  to 

Ida  M.  Seymour from  1877  to  1878 

Elizabeth  M.  Nelson from  1878  to  1881 


14 


210 


WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 


Names.  Time  spent  at  Sem^inbbry. 

Ellen  McKinney from  1878  to  1880 

Dora  C.  Phelps from  1879  to  1880 


ALUMNJE. 
Class  of  '56. 


Name. 


M.  Augusta,  Chapin, 

Sarah  C.  Harrington,  Jacob  H.  Fuller 


Husband's  Nam£.  Address. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Hampton,  Conn. 


^Catharine  Doolittle, 
*Helen  M.  Dudley, 
Julia  F.  Driggs, 
^Rhoda  S.  Driggs, 
Sallie  K.  Rigdon, 
*Eliza  P.  Scott, 
Isabella  Stevens, 
Jennie  S.  Sturdevant, 
Helen  M.  Tenny, 
*Clara  Worthington, 


Class  of  '57. 

W.  H.  Chamberlain. 

^Edward  Sinks. 

Rev.  David  Clark,    Austin,  111. 


Wm.  Hall, 

Olds. 

B.-S.  Higley,  Esq. 
Wm.  A.  Farris, 
Wm.  K.  Rowell, 
J.  N.  Wilson. 


Portsmouth. 

Youngstown. 
Oil  City,  Pa. 
Oakland,'  Cal. 


Fannie  F.  Bradley, 
Margaretta  L.  Brewer, 
Sarah  A.  Clark, 
Sarah  J.  Dawes, 
Emily  H.  Donaldson, 
Caroline  S.  Doolittle, 
Linda  Dugan, 
Elizabeth  Dugan, 
Lucy  Gerrish, 
Kittie  A.  Haire, 
Mary  S.  Hale, 
Auretta  Hoyt, 


Class  of  '58. 

Fred  A.  Ross, 
Alfred  Dickey, 
Geo.  T.  WilUams, 
Rev.Jno.H.Shedd, 

Robert  J.  Linton, 

Dr.  T.  W.  Gordon, 

Daniel  Armel, 
L.  A.  James,  M.  D. 


Terre  Haute,  Ind. 
Crawfordsville,  Ind. 
Cincinnati. 
Ooroomiah,  Persia. 
New  Richmond, 
Bell  Vernon,  Pa. 
Georgetown. 
Georgetown. 
Washington,  Ind. 
Humboldt,  Kan. 
Cincinnati. 
Indianapolis,  Ind, 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY. 


211 


Name.  Husband's  Name. 

Amy  J.  Huling,  Chas.  H.  Murray, 

Laura  H.  Jones, 

Harriet  E.  Kingsbury,  Halsey  C.  Burr, 

Lucy  C.  Lee,  L.  M.  Holbrook, 

Sarah  C.  McKean,         Jas.  M.  Cumback, 

Lydia  H.  Putnam, 

fMary  E.  Rapp. 

M.  Caroline  Richards,  Albert  D.  Glover, 

Mary  R.  Spooner,         L.  Worcester, 

Mary  S.  Thomason, 

Harriet  N.Thompson,  Rev.  H.  McVay, 


address. 

Louisville,  111. 
Davenport,  Iowa. 
Ironton. 
New  York. 
Indianapolis,  Ind. 
Columbus. 

Newark,  Mo. 
Greensburg,  Ind. 
Louisville,  Ky. 
Granville,  111. 


fEmily  L.  Bailey, 
Mary  E.  Ball, 
^Martha  A.  Behan, 
Jane  E.  Betts, 
^Anna  P.  Donaldson. 
Margaret  S.  Davidson 
Harriet  N.  Eastman, 
Mary  M.  Ellis, 
Helen  S.  Force, 
Ellen  Gow, 
Sarah  E.  Greason, 
Margaret  A.  Guffin, 
Laura  Hoyt, 
Lucy  Levy, 
Margt.  M.  Loughridge 
Emily  Bishop  Mixer, 
Sabra  G.  Newton, 
Catharine  Pierce, 
Mary  Burr  Putnam, 
Laura  M.  Tuthill, 
Drusilla  T.  Warthan, 
Clarinda  Wilkins, 
Sarah  Wilkins, 


Class  of  '59. 

Porter  H.  Snow,      Chicago,  111. 
Chas.  R.  Peddle,      Terre  Haute,  Ind. 
Rev.  Earl  Cranston. 
Franklin  Sawyer,    Southington. 


,  Rev.  J.  D.  Fry, 

Rev.  Jos.  Rowley, 
Rev.  Edwin  Childs, 
Rev.  Geo.  B.  Gow, 
D.  A.  Mitchell, 
*James  A.  Kackley, 
Smith  King, 

Wm.  N.  Aiken, 
George  White, 
M.  A.  McLaughhn, 
David  B.  Treat, 
T.  C.  Fitch, 

Williams, 

J.  Langridge,  M.  D., 


Bloomington,  HL 
Tungoo,  Asia. 
Chicago,  111. 
Jonesville,  Mich. 
Millbury,  Mass. 
Wichita,  Kan. 
Indianapolis,  Ind. 
Indianapolis,  Ind. 
Madison,  Ind. 
Newcastle,'^Pa. 
W.  Winsteadj'Conn. 
Quinnemont,W.Va 
Tallmadge. 
Columbus. 
Duquoin,  111. 
Greensburg,  Ind. 
Montgomery,  Ala. 
Paddy's  Run. 


212 


WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 


Nmne. 


Class  of  '60. 
Husband's  Name. 


Address. 


Mary  Ellen  Adams,     Edgar  F.  Draper,     Portsmouth. 
^Elizabeth  B.  Ballard,  *Rev.  Edward  Walker.  , 

*Zorilda  M.  Brown,     Robert  S.  M.  Bennett. 
Harriet  V.Burkhalter,Chas.  A.  Newman,  Reading. 
Mary  A.  Campbell,      James  W.  Christie,  Hot  Springs,  Ark. 
Margaret  A.Coles,  Ashland,  Ky. 

■^"Harriet  N.  Crawford. f 

Helen  C.  Fisher,  T.  Gilbert  Wright,  Sharen,  Mass. 

Bessie  H.  Gilbert,        Samuel  W.  Bird,     Chicago,  111. 
Mary  Goodf ellow,         *E.  D.  Humphries,  San  Francisco,  Cal. 
*Ehzabeth  A.  Howell. 

Marianna  J.  Knapp,      ShobalV.Clevenger,  Chicago,  111. 
Frances A.McCutchan, James  M.Moore,    Youngstown. 
Virginia  S.  Nay  lor,       Andrew  J.  Hay, 
—  Robinson, 


Lenora  L.  Ormsby, 

Josephine  Pierce, 

Mary  L.  Shedd, 

*MarthaF.  Smith, 

Ellen  E.  Smith, 

Elizabeth  Stagg, 

Mary  E.  Stanley, 

Clara  A.  Taylor, 

^Louisa  M.  Wasson, 

*Nancy  J.  Williamson, 

Anna  H.  Whitten,        Rev.  H.  B.  Scott, 


Charlestown,  Ind. 
Kingsburg,  Cal. 
Talemadge,  0. 
Mt.  Gilead. 


J.  W.  Calvert. 

Ellis  Lewis, 
Rev.  Martin  Post, 
Wm.  H.  Fry, 


Painesville. 
Osage  City,  Kan. 
Oakland,  Cal. 
Indianapolis,  Ind. 


Middleport. 


Class  of  '6L 
Mary  J.  Bennett,  Albert  M.  Osborn,  Lebanon. 


Naomi  Diament, 
Emma  S.  Driggs, 
*Martha  Fry, 
Sarah  M.  Hubbard, 
Ellen  Johnson, 
■^Jennie  Kile, 
Sarah  Reis, 
Mary  Reis, 


Edward  S.  Field, 
John  Dale, 


Kalgan,  China. 
Madison,  Ind. 

Indianapolis,  Ind. 
Kankakee,  111. 

Middle  town. 
Middletown, 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY. 


213 


Nrmie. 

Isabella  B.  Riggs, 
Anna  E.  Stewart, 


Husband's  Name, 


Address. 


Rev.  M.Williams,  Kalgan,  China. 
Barrett  W.  Clark,    Knoxville,  la. 


Sarah  A.  Dickinson 

Frances  Eells, 
Mary  E.  Landis, 
Cornelia  Little, 
Mary  S.  Moore, 
*PhiluraC  Richardson  Rev. 
Anno  M,  Snively, 


Class  of  '62. 
D.  A.  Corey, 


Waukegan,  111. 

Norwalk. 
Isaac  W.  Holman,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 
Rev.  L.  S.  Griggs,    Terry ville.  Conn, 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Black, 

Gainesville,  Fla. 


*Emma  Spangler,t       Amos  W.  Southard. 

Electa  T.  Whitehead,  Aug.  Starr,  M.  D.,    Canal  Winchester. 


Ellen  P.  Allen, 
*Eliza  Carnahan, 
Laura  E.  Cheseldine, 
Harriet  P.  Conkling, 
Ella  Kendall, 
Mary  Ellen  Little, 
Sarah  E.  Pond, 
Frances  G.  Reed, 


Sarah  C.  Badeau, 
Marianne  C,  Beach, 
Susanna  Blasdell, 
Ellen  Gordon, 
Clara  Hoyt, 
Aleda  Harshberger, 
f  Mary  Leonard, 
Mary  C.  McDonald, 
Emma  C.  Paddack, 
Maria  A.  Parshley, 
Mary  L.  Roots, 
fHannah  R.  Russell, 


Class  of  '6a 

Rev.  D.  R.  Love. 
James  H.  White, 


Gainesville,  Fla. 


Danville,  111. 

Sharonville. 
John  W.  Over  turf,  Portsmouth. 
Joseph  Griggs,         Madison,  Ind. 
Samuel  W.  Baird,  Portsmouth. 
J.  S.  Blithe,  Ashtabula. 

Class  of  '64. 

M.  B.  Marshall,         Bryan. 

Chicago,  111, 
Wm.  S.  Taylor,        St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Fred.  W.  Grube,      Gosport,  Eng. 
Edgar  H.  Williams,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 
Rufus  P.  Upton,      Minneapolis,  Minn. 


Bowen, 


John  W.  Brock, 


R.  B.  Spilman, 


Bloomington,  111. 
Camden,  Ind. 
Hamilton. 
Mt.  Vernon,  HI. 
Milford  Center. 
Manhatan,  ICan. 


2\4 


WESTERN    FEMALE   SEMINARY. 


Name. 

Harriet  E.  Smith, 
Emily  Scales, 
Frances  S.  White, 


Husband's  Name 
Chas.  F.  Linzee, 


Address. 


Duquoin,  111. 
Rev.  Leavitt  Bartlett,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Robt.  Montgomery,  Oregon,  Mo. 


Class  of  '65. 
fMyra  Brown, 
*Myrta  L.  Barber, 
Aphia  S.  A.  Bartlett, 
Florence  A.  Carpenter, 
Frances  M.Cheseldine,  William  T.  ColKns, 
V.  Elizabeth  Crawford,  Manaen  Arter, 
Fannie  E.  Ford, 


Pamelia  Gow, 
Annie  Griggs, 
Mary  E.  Guthrie, 
Sarah  Belle  Howe, 
Mary  K.  Lawder, 
*Laura  A.  Marsh  ill, 
Mary  J.  Martin,   . 
Clara  McCleland, 
M.  Melissa  Megrue, 
Mary  E.  Post, 
Julia  Smith, 


Marcus  C.  Acheson, 

Bobt.  Stewart  Page, 
Charles  F.  Howe, 
M.  J.  Jones,  M.  D. 

N.  Cunningham, 


Henry  H.  Harris, 
Henry  Benner, 


Oxford. 

Warsaw,  N.  Y. 
Grand  Rapids, Mich- 
Chicago,  111. 
Rossville,  111. 
Walnut  Hills,   Cin. 
Washington,  Pa. 
Jefferson  City,  Mo- 
Shelbyville.  Ind. 
Chicago,  111. 
Peoria,  111. 

Greenville. 
Columbus. 
Champaign,  111. 
Logansport,  Ind. 
Rantoul,  111. 


A.  L.  Bartholemew, 
Lucy  M.  Bell, 
Rebecca  Conkling, 
Mary  E.  Harriott, 
E.  Viella  Holmes, 
Ada  Klum, 
Mary  Macy, 
C.  Olivia  Meily, 
Elizabeth  K.  Peabody, 
fM.  Rebecca  Roberts, 
Maria  Sheely, 
*India  A.  Thomas. 


Class  of  '66. 

L.  K.  Andrews,  Lewis,  Iowa. 
R.  P.  Rifenberick,  Portsmouth. 
Homer  Sheely,         Pleasant  Run. 

W.  L.  Porter,  Lima. 

Kokomo,  Ind. 
S.  S.  Carpenter,        Cincinnati. 
Calvin  S.  Brice,        Lima. 
Rev.  Wm.  Wilmer,  Williamsport,  Ind. 

Republican,  D.  T. 

Fredericksburgh. 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY. 


215 


Name. 


Class  of  '67. 
Husband's  Name. 


Virginia  M.  Allen,        Clayton  W.  Everett, 
Margaret  F.  Campbell, 
C.  Amelia  Campbell, 

Anna  R.  Carley,  Brown, 

Lydia  Aldersey  Carnahan, 
Hulda  Case,  E.  C.  Reese,  Esq., 

Mary  R.  Cathcart,        Daniel  Ransdell. 
ISiarcissa  G.  Cleland, 


Amelia  Clift, 
Emma  Gordon, 
fHelena  E.  Graff, 
Laura  A.  Hay  ward, 
Euretta  Hurlburt, 
Emilie  H.  Jones,  M.  D., 
Nira  Koogler, 
S.  Louisa  Leonard, 
Rachel  A.  Martin, 
^EUa  A.  McKim, 
f  Isabella  Shephard, 
Louisa  C.  Wilkerson 
Jane  G.  Williams, 
^Elizabeth  Wi  shard, 


Henry  C.  Powell, 


Curtis  Wright, 
J.  H.  Bradley, 
T.  E.  Burrowes, 


Rev.  John  Hussey, 
A,  A.  Davison, 
Gaston  Boyd,  M.D., 
■'^Geo.  Parrott, 


Address. 

Toledo. 

Cumberland,  Md. 
Cumberland,  Md. 
Lafayette,  Ind. 
Dayton,  Ind, 
Pana,  111. 
Indianapolis,  Ind. 
Topeka,Kan. 
New  Castle,  Ind. 
Salem,  Ind. 
Cincinnati. 
Beloit,  Wis. 
Hartford,  Kan. 
Fredonia,  N.  Y. 
Connersvil,e,  Ind. 
Clayton,  N.  J. 
Hamilton. 

Lafayette,  Ind. 
Seymour,  Ind. 
Newton,  Kan. 


Class  of  '68. 
Georgiana  Banks, 

Annie  Caldwell,  John  F.  Moses, 

Florence,  Ellis, 

Emma  Ford,  S.  J.  Long, 

Catherine  A.  Gibson,    John  D.  Gibson, 
Martha  Harger, 

^"Frances  A.  Lawder,   R.  H.  Pratt, 
Laura  McClelland,      ^Prof .W.K.  Saurber, 
Margaret  J.  McCullough, 
^Anna  McLean. 
Mary  P.  Miller,  Albert  C.  Reed, 


Horseheads,  N.  Y. 

Rushville,  Ind. 

Columbus. 

Jackson. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Red  Wing,  Minn. 

York,  Pa. 
Bloomington,  Ind. 

Evanston,  111. 


216 


WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 


Name,  Husband's  Name. 

Helen  M.  Nelson,  Rev.  H.  Bollard, 

Catharine  E.  O'Byrne, 
Emma  Peabody, 
Mary  T.  Rogers, 
Sarah  O.  Sheppard, 
Sarah  M.  Smith. 

Alice  B.  Sturgus,  W.  C.  Hill, 

^Mary  K.  Tate,  W.  P.  Keller. 

Ellen  A.  Tuck, 


Address, 
St  Joseph,  Mo. 
Springfield,  Ind. 
Daysville,  HI. 
Logan. 

Bunker  Hill^  Hi! 
Byron,  m. 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Indianapolis,  Ind. 


Sarah  J.  Turner,  Rev.T.W.Monteith,  Port  Huron,  Mich. 

Class  of  '69. 
George  C.  Merrill,  Andover,  Mass.  ' 


Rev.  J.  H.  Meteer, 
Jos.  Henderson, 

Robt.  F.  Coyle, 

Samuel  E.  Sneed, 
R.  A.  Sturdevant, 


Florence  Adams, 

*Mary  Atherton. 

Jane,  Almira  Ball, 

M^ry  R.  Bosworth, 

Leora  E.  Bowyer, 

Sophia  Brandkamp, 

fHarriet  H.  Chase, 

Maria  E.  Cleland, 

Emily  C.  ElUott, 

M.  Corn'aFarnsworth,  H.  N.  Goe, 

Caroline  E.  Fay,  Rev.  C.  Mowery, 

*Sehnda  H.  Fay. 

Virginia  Gow, 

Eliza  Groenendyke, 

Emma  A.  Hoyt,  Rev.  F.  D.  Seward, 

Julia  Hughes, 

Emma  L.  Isom,  P.  Robertson, 

Luella  R.  Kimball, 

Marg't  A.  Kirkpatrick,  Rev.  D.  G.  LeSourd 

Olive  Frances  McKimm, 

Harriet  McLane,  M.  W.  Ammons, 

Errnina  C.  Milligan,     Rev.  Eugene  Mills, 

Alice  W.  Milligan, 

Amelia  Myers, 

Lucy  E.  Rochester, 


Chas.  Bowen, 


Sullivan,  Ind. 
Boston,  Mass. 
Terre  Haute,  Ind. 
Crawfordsville,  Ind, 
Parkersburg,  Ind. 
Kirkwood,  Mo. 
Prattsburg,  N.  Y. 
Indianapolis,  Ind, 
Coolville. 

Washington,  Pa. 
Lafayette,  Ind.     , 
Fowlerville,  N.  Y. 
Bloomington,  Ind. 
Dayton. 

Evans ville,  Ind. 
Hebron,  Ind. 
Hockingport. 
Monroe. 
Nevada,  Iowa. 
Gosport,  Ind. 
Phi  ladelphia.  Pa  ^., 
Logan. 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY. 


217 


Name. 
Mary  D.  Sheppard, 
Mary  E.  Wells, 


Husband's  Name. 


E.  L.  French, 


Class  of  70. 


Prof.  J.W.  Conover, 


Rachel  A.  Crawford 

Eliza  J.  Cornell, 

Melissa  Coulson, 

Mary  K.  Hughes, 

Mary  Emma  Jones, 

Maria  Kendall, 

Kate  R.  Leake, 

Kate  M.  McClure, 

Augusta  McCoy, 

Julia  Baldwin  Mills, 

Clara  Mae  Morris, 

Fanny  U.  Nelson, 

Clara  Pierce, 

Susan  E.  Timberman, 

Lizzie  J.  B.  Tweed,       Rev.  J.M.Robinson 

Maria  Louise  Whipple, 

Class  of  7L 


P.  A.  Hull, 

Chas.  Harley, 

0.  Milton  Gregg, 
Wm.  Pursell, 

J.  H.  Shultz,  M.D., 


Address. 
Bunker  Hill,  111. 
Aarora,  N.  Y. 


Delphi,  Ind. 
Hamilton. 
Monroe. 

Bloomington,  Ind. 
Greencastle,  Ind. 
Monticello,  Ind. 
Terre  Haute,  Ind. 
Delphi,  Ind. 
New  Salem,  Ind. 
Crawfordsville,  Ind. 
Portsmouth. 
Geneva,  N.  Y. 
Logarisport,  Ind. 
Hamilton. 
,  Shawneetown,  El. 
Camp  Point,  111. 


f  Caro.  V.  Alexander,  J.N.LaGrange,M.D.  Marion,  Iowa. 


E.  C.  Bowen,  Zanesville. 

Allen  H.  Bacon,      St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Cyrus  Hunt,  M.  D., 

Wm.  A.  Byal,  M.  D.,  Vanlue. 

Rev.  C.  L.  Hall.       Ft.  Berthold,  D.  T. 
Franklin  Ind. 

Dr.  G.  G.  Craig,       Rock  Island,  111. 

Oren  S.  Hadley,  Esq. 
Sophia  M.Cunningham,  Rev.  C.  A.  Duncan,  Jonesboro,  E.  Tenn. 
Lydia  A.  Dimon,  Milan. 

Sarah  Gamble,  Connersville,  Ind. 

*Narcissa  B.  Goodfellow,  J.  O.  Risser. 
Anna  M.  Hopkins,  St.  Louis,  Mo.  , 

Eliza  Hougham,  Rev.H.E.Hickman,  Frankfort,  Ind. 


Ella  Bane, 
M.  Louise  Bissell, 
■'^'Athelia  Byers, 
Eliza  J.  Bushnell, 
Emma  M.  Calhoun, 
f  Eleanor  J.  Clarke, 
fNellie  Cleland, 
*Laura  Ella  Clough, 


218 


WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 


Name. 

Emma  Hughes, 
*Anna  R.  Mason, 
f  Mary  Needham, 
Rosa  Jessie  Rabb, 
Eva  Sherwood, 
Nannie  M.  Snyder, 
Nannie  R.  Wason, 
Mary  E.  White, 


Husband's  Na'ine. 


Rev.  J.  B.  Gregg, 


Rev.  J.  M.  Bailey, 
Edward  P.  Ames, 
Henry  E.  Lavayea. 
MaryMaxwelWillson,C.  D.  Whitehead, 


Hamilton. 

Hartford,  Conn. 
Chicago,  111. 
Cincinnati. 
Cincinnati. 
Lowell,  Ind. 
Cleveland. 
Mary ville.  Mo. 


Class  of  72. 


Mary  L.  Allen, 
Hattie  Boal, 
Mary  Moore  Blythe, 
Alice  Cary  Blythe, 
Mary  Coulson, 
Alice  L.  Dean, 
Mary  K.  Dwyer, 
Marion  A.  Perkins, 
Evangeline  Tweed, 
Anna  M.  Whallon, 
Mattie  A.  Zook, 


Rev.W.L. Whipple,  Ooroomiah,  Persia. 


Robt.  Peebles, 


C.  N.  McGroarty, 
J.  P.  Mills,  M.  D., 
Fred  Rhorer, 


Ashland,  Ky. 
Hanover,  Ind. 
Hanover,  Ind. 
Oxford. 
Milan. 
Greenfield. 
Troy. 

Georgetown. 
Chicago,  111. 
Pueblo,  Col. 


Class  of  73. 
Fannie  Michler  Cobb, 
Caroline  E.  Collins,      E.  L.  Pattin, 
*Emma  S.  Crawford.f  Sam.  Taggart. 
Mary  A.  Dame, 
Mary  Gorilla  Dickey, 
Em'line  H.  Eastman, 
Nannie  A.  Ellis, 

f  Emma  Hutchinson,    Prof.  B.  C.  Davis, 
fMary  McKinney, 
Mary  S.  Nelson, 
Laura  A.  Olmstead, 
fMargaret  L.  Sheeley, 


Prof.  C.  A.  Leonard. 
J.  L.  Love,  M.  D., 


Sioux  City,  Iowa. 
Muncie,  Ind. 

Edinburg,  Ind. 
Mt.  Sterling,  Ky. 
Whiting,  Kan. 
Mitchell,  Ind. 
Merom,  Ind. 
Binghamton,  N.  Y. 
Geneva,  N.  Y. 
Bangkok,  Slam. 
Fredericksburg. 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY. 


219 


NaTYie. 

Maria  Barkins  Starr, 
Emma  K.  Vawter, 
f  Sarah  D.  Waterman, 
•^Mary  O.  Williams. 
Cordelia  Wood, 


Husband's  Name. 
Rev.  O.  Wright, 


Address. 

Dodge  City,  Kan. 
Santa  Monica,  Gal. 
Col  ton,  Cal. 


James  T.  Herrick,  Wellington,  Kan. 


Class  of  74. 

Julia  A.  Baldwin,  John  M.  Nichols, 

f  Mary  Irene  Chidlaw, 

*Adrienne  B.  Curran, 

Virginia  Dare, 

Pocahontas  McCoy, 

Sarah  Maria  Robinson, 

Emilie  Eliza  Robinson, 

Class  of  75. 


Columbus. 
Cleves. 

Oxford. 

New  Salem,  Ind. 
Washington,  D. 
Washington,  D. 


Anna  E.  Calhoun, 
Anna  M.  Carson, 
*Alice  E.  Conkling. 
Cora  Ida  Dare, 
Virginia  Dickey, 
Isabel  F.  Dodd, 
Lucy  J.  Eastman, 
Flora  Estella  Ellis, 
Alice  B.  Gibson, 
Jessie  M.  Henderson, 
Emma  R.  Kimball, 
Julia  L.  Kitchei, 
Jennie  D.  McCleery, 
fKate  M.  McCleery, 
Mary  McKee, 
Henrietta  E.  Parker, 
M.  Annie  Pendleton, 
Sophronia  B.  Pike, 
Adelaide  Estella  Reed, 
Madora  E.  Spilman, 
Margaretta  P.Thomas, 
Emma  H.  Trimble, 


Robt.  McCurdy. 
L.  M.  Dillman, 


Kenton. 
Bloomington,  III. 


Oxford. 

Washington,  Utah. 

Boonton,  N.  J. 

Griggs ville,  111. 

Bainbridge,  Ind. 

Manchester. 
W.  W\  Hester,M.D.,  Anna,  111. 

Bloomington,  111. 

Liberty,  Ind. 
Samuel  M.  Sheller,  Clays  ville.  Pa. 

West  Alexander, Pa. 
James  B.  Welsh,      Danville,  Ky. 
Asa  M.  Goodwin,     Rushville,  111. 

Chenoa,  111. 

Ft.  Berthold,  D.  T. 

Portsmouth. 
Hendrick  Vansant,  Flemingsburg,  Ky. 
H.  R.  Thompson,     Crawfordsville,  Ind, 

Sevmour,  Ind. 


22b 


WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 


Name,  Husband's  Name.  Address. 

Annie  M.  Turner,        Rev.  F.  E.  Morgan,  Kurnool,  India. 
Margaret  Wade,  Ross. 

Maria  Louise  Wason,  Lowell,  Ind, 

Harriet  F.  Whallon,  Oak  Park,  III. 


Susan  C.  Ballard, 
Anna  M.  Blayney, 
Myra  Jane  Calhoun, 
Mary  Alice  Craig, 
Alice  H.  Cromwell, 
Belle  S.  Dix, 
Martha  J.  Hill, 
Julia  A.  Lamson, 
Mary  E.  Messenger, 
Elizabeth  M.  Nelson, 
Jennie  L.  O'Byrne, 
Minnie  M.  Orr, 
Emma  H.  Paige, 
Julia  Pratt, 
Julia  A.  Shuler, 
Jane  M.  Timberman, 
Eva  Landis  Trout, 


Class  of  76. 

Springfield. 
Rev.Adolph  Lehman,  Dresden. 
D.  W.  Longfellow,   Ft.  Berthold,  D.  T. 
Chas.  B.  Poyntz,       Indianapolis,  Ind. 
Theo.  H.  Williams,  Mankata.  Minn. 

Eaton. 

Dayton,  Ind. 

Vevay,  Ind. 
Rev.  J.  R.  Gibson,   Troy. 

Geneva,  N.  Y. 
W.  H.  Montgomery,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Marietta,. 

Nashville,  HI. 

Portsmouth. 
Rev.  Frost  Craft,      Noblesville,  Ind. 

Hamilton. 

Crawfordsville,  Ind. 


Class  of  77. 
W.  W.  Mills, 


W.  N.  Van  Brunt, 
Roy  Scott, 


Lillian  Adams, 

Lizzie  D.  Church, 

Hattie  E.  Geddes, 

Kate  Giltner, 

Ada  A.  Kingsbury, 

Candace  M.  H.  Lhamon, 

Mary  Nantz  McCrae, 

Leila  S.  McKee, 

Florence  Nichols,         Alex.  Mann 

Elizabeth  M.  Pendleton, 

Clarissa  L.  Pendleton, 

Elizabeth  Wade,  A.  J.  Marsh 

Emily  Waterman,, 


Howell,  Mich. 
Boston,  Mass. 
Mt.  Clemens,  Mich. 
Aurora,  Neb. 
Amer'n  Fork,  Utah. 
Gambler. 
Peotone,  Kan. 
Danville,  Ky. 
Paris,  111. 
Chenoa,  111. 
Chenoa,  111. 
Cincinnati. 
Waterman,  Ind. 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY. 


221 


Na^ne. 
Anna  Marion  Allen, 
Mary  M.  Campbell, 
Edna  S.  Cole, 
Fannie  Cundall, 
Mary  Virginia  Ewing 
Archer  E.  Hatcher, 
Josephine  H.  Lane 
Mary  L.  Mack, 
Anna  S.  Morris, 
Emma  Nevius, 
Ida  B.  Kobbins, 
Mary  West, 


Martha  L.  Blayney, 
Mary  E.  Bonham, 
Eliza  B.  Hendricks, 
Margaret  E.  Johnston, 
Irene  C.  Jones, 
Edna  E.  Kalb, 
Anna  E.  Kumler, 
Fannie  S.  Laurie, 
Olara  A.  Laurie, 
Helen  Lyle, 
Ida  M.  Matson, 
Carrie  B.  Reynolds, 
Margaret  Savage, 
Hoyland  Taylor, 
Helen  Taylor, 
Rowey  Tucker, 
Mary  G.  Webb 
ISTarcissa  B.  Wilson, 


Class  of  78. 

Husband's  Name.  Address. 

Wm.  Martindell,      Clay  Center,  Kan. 
Ching  Mai,  Laos  (P.  O.  Bangkok,  Siam.) 
Ching  Mai,  Laos  (P.  O.  Bangkok,  Siam.) 
Tripoli,  Syria. 
Ogden,  U.  T. 
E.  C.  Tiffany,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Walaka,  Fla. 
Gilead,  Conn. 
Chicago,  111. 
Fred.  R.  Levering,  Lafayette,  Ind. 
Jackson. 
Groesbeck. 


Class  of  79. 


-Martin, 
-Rowe,  M.  p., 


Rev.  Tho.  Boyd, 


Sulphur  Springs, 
Webster  Grove,  Mo. 
Petersburg,  Ind. 
Connersville,  Ind. 
Newark. 
Henry,  111, 
Cincinnati. 
Hamilton. 
Hamilton. 
Lexington,  Ky. 
Cleves. 

Griggsville,  111. 
Ashland,  Ky. 
Loudonville. 
Casselton,  D.  T. 
Beverly. 

Vermillionville,  La. 
Warsaw,  Ind. 


t  Full  course  not  completed. 


*  Deceased. 


222  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

Class  of  '80. 
Name:  Residence.. 

Luella  Adams McCoy's,  Ind. 

Florence  Amick Scipio,  Ind. 

Cora  Evans  Bell Hillsboro. 

Haddie  G.  Borton Plymouth,  Ind. 

Lovetta  Brice Greenfield. 

Mary  Amanda  Clarke Tabriz,  Persia. 

Martha  Ellen  Fain Jonesboro,   E.   Tenn. 

Anna  Gernand Rossville,  111. 

Carolena  Goodenow Roseville,  111. 

Kate  Hutchinson New  Albany,  Ind. 

Lillie  Elma  Kendall Richmond,  Ind. 

Catharine  Lawson Greenup,  Ky. 

Lizzie  McCord Oxford. 

Kate  G.Scott Adams'  Mills. 

Kate  Storey Vernon,  Ind. 

Rebecca  R.  Swift Pleasant  Ridge. 

I.  Katharine  Timberman Hamilton. 

Henrietta  Van  Hook Fulton,  Iowa. 

ClaraVawter Franklin,  Ind. 


NAMES    OF    THOSE    WHO    ARE    OR    HAVE  BEEN 
FOREIGN  MISSIONARIES. 

Name.  Husband's  Name,  Address. 

Sarah  L.  Utley,  Rev.  S.  Woodin,     Foochow,  China. 

Isabella  B.  Riggs,  Rev.  M.  Williams,  Kalgan,        " 

*Julia  La  Fromboise,  Dakota  Territory. 

Naomi  Diament,  Kalgan,  China. 

Mary  Hicks,  Rev.  J.  M.  Shaw,      Tungchow,  " 

Mary  E.  Barr,  Peking,        " 

Sarah  Jane  Dawes,       Rev.  John  Shedd,    Ooroomiah,  Persia. 
^Harriet  N.  Crawford, 

Mary  Allen,  Rev.  Wm.  Whipple,  " 

Sarah  Jane  Bassett,  Teheran, 

Irene  Briggs,  Rev.  S.  L.  Ward,     Tabriz, 

Mary  A.  Clarke, 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY. 


223 


Name. 


Husband's  Name. 


Harriet  S.  Ashley, 

Abbie  L.  Burgess,        Rev.  R.  Hume, 

Charlotte  Chandler,     Rev.  E.  Hume, 

Maria  Thatcher,  Rev.  Jas.  Quick, 

Charlotte  C.Birge,  Rev.  J.  Chamberlain, 

Annie  M.  Turner,  Rev.  F.  E.  Morgan, 

Lizzie  Forman, 

Marianna  Beach, 

Jenny  Jones,  Rev.  H.  T.  Perry, 

Harriet  N.  Eastman, 

Marv  Hartwell, 


Address. 
Ahmednugger,  India. 


Bombay,  India. 
Batticotta,  Ceylon. 
Arcot,  India. 
Kurnool,  India. 
Lahoor,  India. 
Eski  Zagra,Turkey. 
Aintab, 

Toungoo,  Burmah. 
Bangkok,  Siam. 
Ching  Mai,  Laos  (P.  O.  Bangkok, Siam). 


Mary  Campbell, 

Edna  Cole, 

Fannie  Cundall, 

Lizzie  Kimball, 

Luella  Kimball, 

Emma  Kimball, 

Ellen  P.  Allen, 

Anna  Gow, 

Malana  Conaway, 

Mary  R.  Spooner, 

Sarah  O.  Sheppard,  "  " 

Martha  Riggs,       '      W.  K.  Morris,  Sisseton  Agency,  Dak.  Ter. 

"'^Nancy  J.  Williamson,  Greenwood,  Yankton,        " 

Emma  L.  Calhoun,      Rev.  C.  L.  Hall,  Fort  Berthold,      " 

Mary  J.  Calhoun,    Rv.  D.  W.  Longfellow,      "  ,   " 

Sophia  B.  Pike,  "  " 

Julia  La  Fromboise,  Yankton,      " 


Tripoli,  Syria. 
Monterey,  Mexico. 


Mexico  City,   " 
Rev.  A.  M.  Darley,  Conesjos,  Colo. 

Leonard  Worcester,  Tullahasse,  Ind.  Ter. 


^Deceased. 


224 


WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 


SUMMARY. 


Whole  number  of  pupils  from  1855-1880 1 ,948. 

"graduates"      "        " 406 

"            "          "  graduates  deceased 37 

Average  attendance  per  year.. 155 

Whole  number  of  teachers  from  1855-1880 88 

Number  of  teachers  who  were  graduates 32 

"           "         "       deceased 4 

Whole  number  who  are  or  have  been  missionaries 38 

Number  of  missionaries  deceased......' 2 

Whole  number  of  trustees  from  1855-1880 42 

"            "          "         "        deceased 16 

Number  of  graduates  at  the  reunion 112 

"          "  teachers^    "    "         "       26 


NUMBER  OF  PUPILS,  NOT  GRADUATES,  ACCORDING 
TO  STATES. 


Ohio 632 

Indiana 490 

Illinois 150 

Kentucky 61 

Missouri 37 

Pennsylvania. 21 

Kansas 19 

Iowa 18 

Tennessee 16 

New  York. 15 

Wisconsin 14 

Minnesota 8 

Virginia  and  W.  Virg'na      8 

District  Columbia 7 

Michigan 6 

Canada 1 


New  Hampshire.... 5 

New  Jersey 4 

Texas , 4 

Massachusetts 3 

Alabama 3 

Arkansas 3 

Wyoming  and  Ind'n  Ter's  3 

Connecticut 2 

Maryland 2 

Mississippi 2 

Colorado 2 

India 2 

Vermont 1 

Florida 1 

Nebraska 1 

China.. 1 


Total 1,542 


IN    MEMORIAM 


PHILLIP  HINKLE. 

How  can  we  close  this  happy,  grateful  record  with  a  mem- 
orial to  our  beloved  trustee,  benefactor,  father  and  friend, 
whose  step  of  all  others  on  our  glad  reunion  day  last  June 
was  most  buoyant,  his  voice  most  cheery,  his  playful  wit  the 
merriest  and  his  beaming  fatherly  pride  most  gratified  ?  Or 
how  shall  we  pay  fitting  tribute  ? 

Our  dear  Mr.  Hinkle  died  suddenly  of  heart  disease  on 
Tuesday  October  27, 1880,  after  an  illness  of  less  than  twenty- 
four  hours. 

His  last  act,  like  his  whole  life,  was  of  thoughtful  care  for 
one  who  had  no  one  else  to  think  for  her,  one  of  the  many 
who  will  rise  up  to  call  him  blessed  among  the  widows,  the 
orphans,  the  forsaken  and  the  toiling  poor  of  Cincinnati. 
Seminary  daughters  need  no  eulogy  of  Mr.  Hinkle  to  touch 
the  sorrowing  chords  of  their  hearts  in  his  loss. 

•*The  stranger  could  not  know  his  worth,  '' 
But  to  them 

"  His  memory  is  his  best  epitaph. '' 

The  Bethel  Sabbath  School  of  Cincinnati,  wi-th  which  he 
had  been  connected  for  forty  years,  and  the  Western  Female 
Seminary,  of  which  he  has  been  a  most  intimately  associated 
trustee  for  twenty  years,  as  well  as  one  of  its  first  con- 
tributors, both  felt  in  his  death  all  the  fullness  of  a  near  per- 
sonal bereavement. 

Miss  Peabody  was  called  to  the  stricken  family  by  telegram 

15 


226  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

and  spent  a  week  with  them.  That  home  was  the  house  of 
God  even  in  the  depths  of  its  sorrow.  The  buoyant,  gen- 
erous, consecrated  spirit  who  had  always  been  its  cheerful 
inspiration,  seemed  yet  to  hover  about  tenderly  and  lovingly. 

It  was  Miss  Peabody's  privilege  to  receive  the  members  of 
the  Bethel  school  and  the  many  others  whom  he  had  befriended 
as  they  came  to  look  for  the  last  time  upon  their  friend. 
From  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  to  one  in  the  afternoon 
they  continued  to  come,  singly  and  in  groups,  men,  women, 
young  girls  and  children,  grateful,  tearful,  sorrowing  ones  of 
all  ages  and  classes. 

The  seminary  girls  sent  an  exquisite  floral  tribute — a  harp 
leaning  against  a  completed  column,  bearing  the  initials,  W.  F. 
S.,  upon  the  chords.  What  shall  we  say  more  ?  Blessed  are 
the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord.  They  rest  from  their  labors, 
and  their  works  do  follow  them. 


ALUMNJE  ASSOCIATION. 


The  work  of  the  association  is  more  fully  defined  in  a  cir- 
cular issued  by  the  officers  to  the  entire  Alumnae  soon  after 
the  reunion : 

To  the  Alumnx  of  the  Western  Feyymle  Seminary  : 

Dear  Sisters  ;  *  ^  ^  *  ^  When  the  contemplated 
memorial  volume  reaches  you,  those  who  were  present  will 
live  over  again  the  two  precious  days,  and  we  shall  have  the 
added  pleasure  of  knowing  that  absent  ones  are  sharing  it 
with  us,  and  have  caught,  with  us,  the  thrilling  inspirations 
of  our  Alumnae  Association  as  it  unfolds  before  us  full  of 
high  and  beautiful  possibilities. 

You  will  receive  herewith  a  copy  of  the  constitution  and 
by-laws.  All  who  desire  to  become  members  will  please 
sign  the  constitution  and  return  the  signature,  with  entrance 
fee,  to  the  secretary. 

It  was  resolved  to  endeavor  to  raise,  within  five  years,  the 
sum  of  $5,000  as  a  special  memorial  offering,  to  become  the 
nucleus  of  an  Alumnae  fund,  to  be  securely  invested,  and  the 
income  applied  to  the  education  of  those  who  expect  to  de- 
vote themselves  to  Christian  work. 

Although  $0,000  is  the  sum  named,  yet,  in  the  words  of 
Miss  Ellen  Smith,  our  "  faith  took  possession  of  $10,000  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord,"  and  there  is  an  earnest  hope  that  we  may 
be  able  to  secure  that  amount  within  five  years. 

Already  two  questions  come  to  us,  viz:  "  What  is  the  best 
plan  for  raising  this  money  ?  "  and,  "  How  shall  we  construe 
the  words  '  Christian  work '  in  which  the  beneficiaries  are  to 
engage  ? " 


228  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY.       . 

In  reply  to  the  first,  having  consulted  other  officers  and 
members,  it  is  suggested  that  local  Alumnse  meetings  be  held 
in  every  place  where  graduates  reside,  during  September,  or 
at  the  earliest  convenience,  to  which  all  old  scholars — under- 
graduates— shall  be  invited,  care  being  taken  to  invite  isolated 
ones  residing  within  convenient  distance. 

At  these  meetings,  consider  what  you  can  do  individually 
and  collectively  for  this  fund,  and  what  friends  of  the  semi- 
nary or  of  education  in  your  several  localities  might  like  to 
contribute.  These  first  meetings  need  not  require  elaborate 
preparation,  and  may  be  very  informal  and  social,  as  well  as 
refreshing  spiritual  occasions. 

Let  reports  of  all  such  meetings  be  sent  to  the  secretary, 
and  they  will  be  condensed  into  a  second  circular  letter  which 
shall  come  to  you  all  again.  This  will  prove  a  delightful  in- 
spiration, and  from  this  multitude  of  counsel  will  evolve  all 
the  general  plan  of  work  we  need. 

In  reply  to  the  second  question,  "  How  shall  we  construe 
*  Christian  work  ? '"  we  can  only  say,  judging  from  the  dis- 
cussion in  adopting  the  resolution,  that  the  expression  was 
chosen  as  admitting  the  broadest  application — mission  work, 
home  or  foreign,  church  work,  temperance  and  philanthropic 
work,  teaching,  Christian  home  life,  wifehood,  motherhood, 
any  work  for  God,  the  home,  the  church,  or  the  world  which 
a  consecrated  Christian  woman  can  do  better  for  being  edu- 
cated. 

Only  God  has  a  right  to  define  the  sphere  of  any  young 
woman  going  out  from  the  seminary  with  that  prayer,  "  Lord, 
what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ? "  upon  her  diploma. 

It  may,  however,  be  our  happy  privilege  to  select  and  aid 
in  educating  many  young  women  eminently  qualified  for 
usefulness,  whom  God  shall  accept  and  "  ordain  to  go  and 
bring  forth  fruit"  to  his  glory  and  to  the  world's  good. 

Miss  Peabody  yearly  receives  applications  from  3'oung 
women  nineteen  and  twenty  years  of  age,  who  wish  to  become 
teachers  and  are  unable  to  pay  their  entire  way.  A  fund  has 
been  established  by  one  of  our  generous  trustees,  Mr.  Pre- 
served Smith,  which  is  applied  in  this  way,   but  it  does  not 


TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY.  229 

meet  the  entire  demand.  Indeed  the  grand  possibihties  of 
such  a  fund  can  only  be  measured  by  its  amount. 

ReaUzing  what  the  seminary  has  done  for  us,  how  it  has 
broadened  and  ennobled  our  lives  with  an  education  which 
"  has  its  outlook  toward  all  the  vast  provinces  of  reading  and 
thought,"  who,  so  much  as  ourselves,  should  wish  to  extend  its 
advantages  to  young  women  thrown  upon  their  own  resources 
who  are  hungering  for  an  education  beyond  their  reach  ? 

But  while  our  chief  energies  are  directed  to  this  fund  for  the 
present,  let  us  remember  that  there,  are  many  dehghtful 
methods  in  which  we  may  work  out  the  aims  of  our  associ- 
ation and  the  hopes  of  the  seminary  in  our  education. 

To  revive  and  establish  loving  and  living  bonds  among  our- 
selves, with  old  pupils  and  with  the  seminary ;  to  strengthen 
the  hearts  and  hands  of  our  dear  missionary  band  with  a 
loving,  prayerful,  sisterly  sympathy  which  may  be  more  to 
them  than  any  other ;  to  sustain  and  encourage  those  of  our 
home  band  who  are  working  patiently  and  self-denyingly, 
bearing  heavy  burdens  and  crosses  in  the  retirement  of  home 
or  in  the  world's  highway;  to  create  an  interest  in  Christian 
education  which  can  cope  with  the  infidelity  of  the  times,  and 
counteract  the  tendency  to  exalt  culture  above  Christ,  rather 
than  consecrate  it  to  Christ,  and  which  can  lead  more  wisely 
and  efficiently  in  the  organized  and  growing  philanthropies 
and  reforms  of  the  day;  to  direct  to  the  seminary  promising 
young  women  of  moderate  means  and  parents  seeking  a  place 
for  the  education  of  their  daughters ;  to  induce  parents  able 
to  educate  their  daughters  to  do  so,  who  might  not  otherwise ; 
to  stimulate  to  higher  ideals  and  higher  home  culture  young 
women  who  can  not  avail  themselves  of  these  or  equal  ad- 
vantages; to  keep  ever  distinctly  before  us  the  elevation  of 
the  aims  and  lives  of  women  in  everyday  life ;  to  aid  the  sem- 
inary in  keeping  pace  with  the  growing  educational  advan- 
tages of  the  times ;  to  turn  back  upon  her  currents  of  help  and 
strength  in  return  for  the  blessed  influences  she  has  shed 
upon  our  own  lives,  to  be  returned  by  her  again  to  the  world 
in  streams  to  make  glad  the  city  of  our  God;  these  are  some  of 
the  inspiring  aims  which  unfold  before  us,  and  they  present 
fruitful  topics  for  discussion  in  local  reunions. 


230  WESTERN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

It  is  sincerely  hoped  the  September  meeting  suggested  will 
be  held,  and  that  steps  will  be  taken  to  continue  them  from 
time  to  time,  as  circumstances  will  permit.  Isolated  ones 
might  hold  a  reunion  "  in  spirit, "  and  revive  correspondence- 
with  old  schoolmates,  and  send  us  a  report. 

From  some  have  come  suggestions  of  sub-State  associa- 
tions. These  local  reunions  will  prepare  the  way  for  State 
associations,  if  such  are  desired.  No  better  illustration  of  the 
work  we  may  do,  and  are  doing,  for  the  seminary,  can  be 
given  than  the  following  opening  clause  of  a  letter  received 
recently  by  Miss  Peabody:  "Having  heard  your  school  so 
favorably  spoken  of  by  your  graduates  whom  I  have  met  in 
different  places,  I  take  the  liberty  of  addressing  you.  I  have 
a  daughter  who  should  be  sent  away  to  some  good  school,  pro- 
viding I  can  find  one  within  our  means, "  etc. 

In  proportion,  also,  as  we  illustrate  in  our  own  lives  and 
work  the  benefits  of  seminary  training,  do  we  direct  others 
to  it. 

The  investments  there,  the  beautiful  building  and  grounds, 
the  choice  oi)portunities,  the  excellent  library,  the  priceless 
religious  training,  the  richenss  of  association,  experience,  and 
history,  the  ripeness  of  years,  should  benefit  the  world  to  the 
fullest  extent.  It  is  not  the  spirit  of  the  seminary  to  adver- 
tise itself.  Who  may  so  well  be  her  "living  epistles"  as  our- 
selves ?  Whose  arms  so  appropriate  to  uphold  and  bear  her 
on  into  the  coming  years  as  the  arms  of  her  own  loving 
daughters?  Who  so  fitted  to  aid  in  building  her  up  into 
a  peerless  institution  in  literary  advantages,  as  her  Alumnae  ? 
The  years  touch  our  dear  Miss  Peaboby  lightly  and  beauti- 
fully, but  she  can  not  carry  the  care  she  formerly  did.  Some 
day  she  will  exchange  the  cares  she  has  borne  so  long  and 
lovingly  for  her  crown,  but  our  dear  semniary  must  live  on> 
a  growingly  beautiful  monument  to  her,  and  to  Him  at  whose 
feet  she  has  ever  laid  her  work.  There  is  much  that  we  may 
do,  in  time,  and  only  enrich  ourselves  in  the  doing,  which 
already  suggests  itself.  The  liberal  endowment  of  a  broad 
and  instructive  lecture  course,  regular  additions  to  the  library 
to  keep  it  abreast  with  the  times  in  science,  literature  and 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY.  231 

books  of  reference;  additions  to  the  cabinet;  to  supply  the 
best  apparatus  in  physiology  and  the  various  sciences;  to 
gather  works  of  art  and  souvenirs  of  travel  which  shall  be 
sources  of  pleasure  and  culture  to  our  younger  sisters,  and 
attractive  features  to  visitors,  and  those  seeking  the  highest 
sources  of  culture  for  their  daughters ;  a  telescope  and  a  fire- 
proof building  for  library  and  natural  history  collection ;  these 
are  needs  and  hopes  of  the  seminary  which  the  Alumnae  will 
delight  to  aid  gradually  in  supplying,  without  necessarily 
diverting  from  the  specific  fund  we  have  resolved  to  raise. 

Many  of  us  know  persons  likely  to  take  an  especial  interest 
in  some  one  of  these  objects,  in  improving  the  quality  of  edu- 
cational advantages  to  young  women,  who  might  not  con- 
tribute to  the  object  of  the  Alumnse  fund. 

Recently  $35  for  the  library  was  received  from  one  of  the 
Alumnae,  a  donation  from  the  estate  of  her  father,  who  had 
been  deeply  interested  in  the  seminary  library. 

Freely  we  have  received  of  the  best  which  the  times  and 
means  at  command  could  afford  us.  Freely  let  us  impart  of 
effort  to  give  to  those  who  come  after  us,  the  best  of  their 
time.  Thus  may  we  ourselves  reap  reflex  benefits  from  ad- 
vancing culture  which  it  was  not  our  privilege  to  receive,  and 
which,  with  many  of  us,  "life's  ceaseless  burden  of  homely 
care  "  will  not  now  permit.  Many  of  you  scarcely  need  this 
special  pleading,  for  you  have  daughters  whom  you  hope  to 
send  to  the  seminary. 

Dear  sisters,  we  have  thus  outlined  a  great  work  which  our 
association  might  do  in  time,  but  let  not  any  one  feel  that 
more  is  expected  of  her  than  she  can  do.  Our  work  should 
be  entirely  pleasant  to  all,  and  burdensome  to  none,  and  we 
would  not  make  it  appear  too  arduous  in  the  outset. 


